When working on a shoestring budget, these free and low-cost marketing methods can assist small businesses in engaging new clients and retaining their present customer base.
Marketing involves a wide range of techniques and instruments, some of which may be much above the budget of the average small firm. However, not all small-business marketing strategies are expensive. If you have a limited marketing budget, here are some free — or virtually free — marketing strategies to help you advertise your products and attract new consumers.
1. Publish content
A great free marketing tip for small companies is to create and share content on your company’s website and social media networks. A corporate blog loaded with helpful pieces for your industry and consumer base is an excellent method to engage with current customers while also attracting new ones. Newsletters, e-books, case studies, white papers, films, and podcasts are some more content possibilities that may be disseminated via email, text messaging, and social media posts.
Incorporating statistics and infographics into your content may help consumers comprehend and share it with their networks, boosting the reach of your business.
2. Use free SEO tools
In addition to creating material for your readers, you can use search engine optimisation to increase the exposure of your website and content without spending a lot of money. Google Analytics and Yoast SEO are free tools that may help you optimise your website’s content and boost your search engine rankings. Using free keyword tools like WordStream, Ahrefs, and others may help you better understand what people are searching for and how you can incorporate these phrases into your content to make it simpler for potential consumers to find you online.
3. Create a social media presence
Another free marketing option for contacting clients is to create social media profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and other sites. Joining professional forums, engaging in industry discussions, sharing material, and communicating with consumers who comment on your postings may all help you grow your audience.
Collaboration with social media influencers may also assist boost your social media presence. Sending them a free product to review is a low-cost alternative, or you can go a step further and pay the influencer to promote your product or service. While this is not a free marketing strategy, it might be worthwhile if you locate an influencer whose audience base aligns with yours.
4. Manage online business reviews
Yelp and the Better company Bureau, for example, provide free company profiles. After you register or claim your business, you may submit information about its location, hours, and website, as well as photos of its items and employees. Managing your account on an ongoing basis, keeping your business data up to date, and reacting to both good and negative customer reviews will help you get the most out of this free marketing approach. In addition, some review websites may allow you to place advertisements on them for a price.
5. Send digital newsletters
A corporate newsletter published through email is an excellent approach to draw people to your website and keep them involved with your brand, as well as to maintain ties with existing clients. Email marketing tools like Mailchimp and MailerLite provide free services for a limited amount of connections.
You may advertise your digital newsletter on your website by including opt-in forms where potential subscribers can enter their email addresses. Having a sign-up form at your physical site can also help you develop your email list. In exchange for a visitor’s contact information, you could offer a small incentive such as a product discount or access to a webinar.
6. Organise a webinar
Hosting a webinar or participating on one with another company might assist you in engaging prospective clients and sharing information about your company. This might be as easy as broadcasting live on Facebook or Instagram and asking questions from viewers, or it can be as complex as interviewing one of your best workers. Whatever style you use, this small-business marketing strategy will most certainly provide some new consumers with insight into your company while establishing yourself as a reference in your field.
7. Share videos on social media channels.
YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram may all be low-cost venues for hosting short videos that explain what your company does, demonstrate a product, and give how-to material to your target audience. With the capacity to take videos on any smartphone, this free marketing concept may have a major impact, allowing you to capture the attention of potential consumers who are looking for instructional films. If you’re ready to invest time in videos as a marketing approach for your small business, be sure to study up on SEO tactics for each platform so your efforts are rewarded.
8. Create a consumer referral programme.
Introducing a client referral programme is one strategy to increase your word-of-mouth marketing. Offer your present customers something in exchange for introducing new clients, such as a free sample product, a freebie service, discounts, or any other low-cost incentive. A customer referral award might also help you demonstrate thanks to existing clients.
9. Implement a consumer loyalty programme.
Many firms provide loyalty programmes that allow consumers to earn points or receive perks with every purchase. Points are usually redeemable for something valuable, such as a free product or a discount. Loyalty programmes stimulate repeat purchases and brand loyalty, and they may also be reasonably priced because the business owner controls the prizes and points required to qualify for them.
10. Distribute a customer feedback survey
A customer satisfaction survey sent through email is another approach to learn about your consumer base while also reminding them that you exist. Customers will appreciate that you solicited their feedback, and they will feel involved in the survey results, which will transfer into increased loyalty over time. You could also learn something about how your company might develop and better serve its consumers.
11. Implement one-on-one marketing
This customer connection approach seeks to increase personalised interactions with consumers in order to develop stronger loyalty and a higher return on marketing effort. Sending handmade postcards to loyal clients, thank you cards, and personalised birthday emails are all examples of one-to-one marketing. If you utilise email instead of direct mail to communicate your message, this might be a free marketing concept. Marketing software can assist you in automating the process.
12. Hold a drawing or contest
Online competitions are an excellent method to collect possible client data, such as phone numbers and email addresses, while also encouraging participants to spread the word about your company to even more people. Another option is to have a raffle in which visitors to your business enter their contact information into a bowl for a chance to win anything. Prizes don’t have to be lavish – a free product or a freebie service might entice potential consumers to spend a few seconds applying to win.
13. Form an industrial collaboration.
Creating a collaboration with a complementary firm — one that isn’t a direct competition — for a joint endeavour might be inexpensive. You may accomplish this by organising a collaborative special event or an online giveaway. The relationship might be for a limited time or for as long as you wish. In any case, collaborating with another company will provide you with access to a broader consumer base, which would normally cost you time and money if done alone.
14. Organise or volunteer at an event
Plan an event or a workshop that will bring in new consumers while also teaching them about your industry. Distribute digital fliers on social media and print some to place on community bulletin boards at libraries, coffee shops, and other neighbourhood enterprises. Most community bulletin boards are open to fliers advertising educational activities and programmes.
15. Join a professional organization
A chamber of commerce or other business-to-business organisation can help you build your small business’s reputation. Connecting through professional organisations may help your firm get recognition in your region while also providing opportunity to network with other business professionals in your area.
16. Contribute to or sponsor charitable events and fundraisers.
Participating in local fundraisers or donating to local charities is a terrific way to express public support for the organisations you care about, while it is not a completely free marketing strategy (you may have to donate some time and potentially some goods). Furthermore, depending on your sponsorship level, you may be able to get awareness with local consumers or recognition for supplying branded gifts.
17. Consider vehicle branding.
If you operate a business that requires a lot of driving, branding your automobile is a practically free marketing concept for your small business. Having a vehicle with your brand on it helps enhance name recognition in your region, and it’s essentially free advertising after the first outlay. Do you have a fleet of vehicles? You may buy a lot of automobile magnets and stick them on all of your vehicles.
18. Offer free samples
Depending on the product or service you provide, a free sample or a discount may be just what your company needs to attract new clients. If prospective consumers are hesitant to purchase your product or service, consider giving them the opportunity to check it out for free. This is a low-cost marketing strategy for small enterprises to get their products or services on people’s radar.
19. Attend local conferences.
Most conferences are not free to attend. However, if you can avoid travelling, some smaller conferences might be rather affordable. Conferences provide an opportunity to network with other small-business owners and industry experts, attract new clients, and get your brand in front of a wide audience. And, if you grow your firm and establish yourself as an industry leader, you’ll most likely be requested to speak at such conferences, which is yet another wonderful free marketing idea.
20. Apply for business awards
Certain business awards, such as those for the best places to work in your region or sector, might help you get your company’s brand out in the community. Local periodicals will occasionally rank companies or compile a list of popular firms, providing another opportunity for your company to shine.
