Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, and every year, the US sees over 600,000 new enterprises. Unfortunately, these small companies experience challenges promoting their products because they compete with giant companies. One of the main challenges of small business marketing is the lack of resources.
However, marketing dynamics have changed thanks to technological advancements. Today, you can market your startup for free or with a limited budget. Here are 5 unique and inexpensive marketing ideas for small businesses to get you started.
- Google My Business
Google is undoubtedly the number one search engine that customers use to search for products and services. Listing your small business on Google offers loads of benefits, from making your offerings visible and generating more leads to getting insights into company growth.
Use Google My Business to increase brand awareness and attract more web traffic to your website and store. The “Business Near Me” feature on Google shows your business to nearby prospective clients. Data from Hubspot reveals that 72% of customers who do a local search on Google visit a store that provides what they are looking for within five miles.
- Social Media Marketing
Social media marketing can boost your small business and bring in more leads when used the right way. Setting up business social media pages is the first step, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. Effective social media marketing requires determining your target audience, being creative, and posting converting content.
Additionally, being on every social media platform does not guarantee visibility. Instead, identify the platforms your potential customers love and capitalize on them. For instance, a company that sells skincare products will do better on Instagram than on Twitter because most beauty enthusiasts are on Instagram.
- Referral Program
Suppose you were involved in a car accident and want to hire a lawyer. Would you call a lawyer that helped your uncle solve a similar case or a lawyer you found on Google? You’d call the first one, without a doubt.
Word of mouth is a free and effective marketing strategy. You can ramp up the strategy by creating a referral program and giving customers rewards, coupons, or cash back if they refer someone.
- Lease a Business Car for Advertising
Car advertisements are popular because cars are always moving. Most small businesses use car adverts to raise brand awareness. They attach magnets, decals, and vinyl graphics to vehicle doors, trunks, or the exterior. This marketing method is cheap because you only pay for the adverts once.
If you don’t own a business car, you can lease one for advertising purposes. Search for a reputable car dealership and talk to the salesperson about leasing a business vehicle. Use a car lease calculator to determine the initial cost, lease price, residual value, and interest to ensure the marketing strategy will offer value.
- Run Competitions and Social Media Contests
One of the cheapest ways to market your small business is by creating competitions and giving participants hampers, products, or freebies. This strategy can turn your business into a profit-making venture if it’s coupled with social media hashtags and promoted by influencers.
There are several ways to promote your business using contests. You can run buy-to-enter games and user-generated content competitions and collaborate with influencers to award prizes.
Lack of resources is one of the greatest challenges for small businesses. However, you can promote your enterprise using free or cheap marketing strategies. Try the ones we’ve mentioned here.