7 Ways to Market Your Small Business by Thinking Outside the Box
When marketing a small business, having a limited budget can sometimes prevent you from using some marketing strategies. But, there are plenty of alternatives.
If you don’t have heaps of money to spend on marketing, here are seven outside-the-box ideas to reach customers that are cost-effective and highly effective.
1. Offer personalized products
Studies show that 80% of customers are more likely to buy a product or service if the brand provides the option to personalize it based on their interests.
Simply reaching out to your customers to thank them is incredibly effective in promoting loyalty. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and this isn’t complicated or expensive to implement.
People love to make things their own, so if there’s a way you can offer customization, it’s definitely something to consider.
Some examples include letting people put their name on the product, add their own images or symbols, change the color, or offering made-to-measure sizes.
2. Create engaging content
Social media is an excellent tool for marketing, and there are plenty of ways to get your message across uniquely, even when you’re on a budget.
To increase your organic engagement, you should create content that’s highly shareable and encourages users to interact with your brand.
One way to do this is by offering prizes to people that use a custom hashtag or tag your business in a post. You can also use “selfies” or other campaigns to encourage more sharing.
3. Show your appreciation
Another great way to boost your marketing efforts is to look after your existing customers. This will increase referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations.
Simply reaching out to your customers to thank them is incredibly effective in promoting loyalty. Everyone likes to feel appreciated, and this isn’t complicated or expensive to implement.
A thank you note is one way to do this. But, if you want to be more original, you can try out something different like samples of a new product or a special event.
4. Utilize free online tools
If you’re struggling to create marketing material on a budget, there are alternatives to using traditional methods like hiring contractors or paying for expensive software.
You can always start thinking outside the box by utilizing other options. There are many free or cheap tools available online that can produce high-quality results.
For example, you can create business cards using a tool like BusinessCards, or find free stock photos using a platform like Unsplash.
5. Start a loyalty scheme
Finding ways to retain customers and promote loyalty is an essential part of any marketing strategy. Many customers are happy to sign up for loyalty schemes with deals and discounts.
Depending on your business model, this could be a traditional loyalty card. Or, it could be an online membership that provides rewards or offers for those that join.
6. Use customer surveys
Customer surveys are a really effective way to research your target audience and tailor your products and services to suit their needs.
It can also help you figure out what your customers want and how you can portray this in your branding and your marketing efforts.
Surveys, which can be simple or include incentives like competitions or raffles, can show you what types of marketing and promotions your customers will respond best to.
7. Social media marketing
Lastly, social media marketing is such an important tool for businesses. However, most companies stick to Facebook or Instagram, and they’re missing out on other options.
One of the most commonly missed social media platforms for small businesses is LinkedIn. Although it’s often skipped altogether, it’s actually one of the best networks to use.
LinkedIn provides many unique opportunities for marketing a business, and many of them are free. You can connect with people in your area, create groups, network with other small business owners in your industry, and more.
