When you’re starting or operating a small business sometimes it can be difficult to source funds for advertising. Promotion is one of the best ways you are going to attract business so you can’t just do nothing and hope the people will come. Let’s explore some low budget options.
Social Media
All social media platforms are free and with a little ad spend you can get your content in front of people who don’t know who you are yet. There are many platforms to choose from and you only have so much time in the day so don’t try to tackle all of them, one or two is generally plenty. In most circumstances, Facebook and Instagram are the platforms to start on and cover the bulk of social media users. Both can be managed through Meta Business Suite where you can schedule content and launch advertising campaigns. You have to start somewhere so just give it a go.
eNewsletter
There are many platforms you can run email marketing campaigns from to get your message straight to your customer’s inbox. You can target existing customers or share sign up forms to collect email addresses for people who might be interested in what you have to sell. Mailchimp is generally a good starting platform with a basic user experience and you can have up to 500 contacts with the free account. Other platforms to consider are Hubspot, Flodesk and Campaign Monitor.
Word of Mouth
This is a big ticket item to get people interested in what you have to offer. People have great value over recommendations from their family and friends, so make sure the customers you currently have are happy! Encourage them to tell their friends and leave reviews. One of the biggest influences on someone making a decision to make a purchase is knowing others have had a good experience. Another way to get your name out there is to hit the streets, walk into neighbouring businesses and introduce yourself. Give people a smiling face to remember!