Marketing has been around for centuries. Gone are the days when door-to-door marketing was the only promotional strategy for businesses. From selling the products and services in the simplest way to today’s fascinating selling ideas, marketing has evolved tremendously.
While marketing is a hefty task in itself, it is even more challenging for small businesses. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Business Employment Dynamics, around 20% of small businesses fail in their first year and nearly 50% of them fail in their fifth. Further, around 14% of small businesses fail because of poor marketing.
Out of several reasons for poor marketing, the budget is the biggest hurdle for small business.
But, don’t worry! Experts say that it’s not always the budget that matters the most.
Sometimes, creativity is what all you need!
And this is what differentiates successful organizations from a small-scale business.
So, here are ten low-budget yet effective promotional ideas for small businesses to get them started.
1. Be a Social Media Expert
Being a part of the digital world, you cannot overlook the significance of social media today. It is the first place to interact and understand your customers’ needs. Hence, promote your products and services online by creating social media handles.
Use interesting visualizations like images and videos to attract your customers. Also, engage with them on a regular basis. Respond to their comments, thank them for their likes, and so on. Don’t forget popular hashtags.
You can also organize contests on your social media on regular basis for your customers and reward the winners with free products, coupons, free subscriptions, and more.
2. Go Old School
How about distributing flyers in local cafes and restaurants? Roadside banners and posters can also be ways to promote your products or services locally. While traditional promotion can annoy your audience at times, their presentation and content can be a game changer for you.
An attractive image with your brand name can do wonders for your small business. Along with eye-catching art, you can also add mind-catching slogans. Also, add offers and discounts to build their interest.
3. Informational Seminars
Organizing promotional seminars that focus on direct selling won’t help small businesses. You will receive zero interest or attention. Instead, you should hold seminars to engage with people.
Discussing their issues related to your products and services, and suggesting solutions that encourage people to know more about your business can be a great way of brand recognition.
Make them feel they are valued. Moreover, this can also help you improve your products and services based on the expectations of your target audience.
4. Step out and Inspire
Roam around in your local area and identify problem areas. Suppose, if you run a business of health products, promoting hygiene and cleanliness near hospitals, chemist shops, day care, and home care centers can be a great promotional idea.
Educate them about hygiene and introduce your products that can help in achieving similar results. You can both use posters or artwork to promote your brand.
5. Build a Referral Program
Use the word-of-mouth marketing to strengthen your customer base. Reward your existing customers for passing good words about your brand or promoting your products or services to others. Reward them with coupons, free samples or even cash.
6. Create Interesting Videos
Video content is a valuable promotional strategy. It leaves a lost-lasting impact on your audience and can earn you a good number of leads. Wondering about the budget? Various video making tools are available online for FREE.
If you want to shoot expert-looking footage without much investment, you can look for YouTube video tutorials on ‘how to shoot a video like a pro on your iPhone!”
7. Get Your Logo Printed
If you’re offering door-to-door services, branding your vehicle can be a fruitful promotional opportunity. Print your brand name, top products or services, and contact number on your vehicle and drive around to sites. Remember, the more you drive, the more potential customers will notice you.
Also, you can get custom lapel pins from Vivipins with your brand logo printed on it. You can give those to your employees to wear them. This idea is especially good for small businesses like bakery stores, showrooms etc.
8. Discount Coupons
An old yet effective promotional strategy! Discount coupons can strongly influence your potential buyers and urge them to buy your products. Not only this but discount coupons also re-active your former buyers.
Distribute coupons on your social handles, coupon listing sites, in local newspapers, door-to-door, etc. You can also offer bonuses like “buy one get one/two free”. Offering premiums for a free subscription or a free trial can also be a way.
9. Make them Smile with Giveaways
Customized t-shirt is a good promotional strategy. However, it isn’t a pocket-friendly option for small businesses. Instead, distributing customized lapel pins can be a great ‘no break the bank’ alternative for such business owners. Vivipins offer a wide range of customized lapel pins at a very budget-friendly price.
You can get your brand name or logo printed on these pins and use them as Giveaways to your local customers. For customized lapel pins, visit here.
10. Connect With Communities
As a small business, building your reputation is also important. Hence, connect with communities you feel passionate about. Associate your business with some cause. You might seek the attention of many potential customers associated with the same cause and encourage them to buy your products.
Kindness is free and helping the needy is the best way to get known in your community.
The Final Say
Include the above discussed low-budget creative ideas in your marketing strategies and you’d see the results soon. Remember, the market is flooded with competitors selling the same products and services like yours. You might lack in terms of funds initially but thinking out-of-the-box marketing ideas can get you ahead of your competitors.
Good Luck!
