Email and direct mail marketing campaigns yield excellent results, but sometimes small companies don’t have all of the time or resources they need to pull them off. If that describes you, it’s important to keep in mind that there are also many low-cost marketing options available if you need to run a quick marketing campaign of your own—all it takes is a little creativity. If you’re looking for ways to get potential customers thinking about purchasing your products or services, these low-cost marketing tactics might benefit you greatly.
Small businesses often have very tight marketing budgets, which means large direct marketing campaigns are sometimes out of the question. Tight deadlines can also hamper your ability to put in all of the planning necessary. In these cases, not only are quick last-minute campaigns effective, they can also be used to reinforce existing campaigns at no extra cost. No matter what size business you have, low-cost marketing strategies can help you draw in business or run a last-minute campaign, and make a bigger profit for the end of the year.
If you’re looking for low-cost marketing strategies and you don’t have much time to run a campaign, it’s important that you remember your social media sites. Many of the social media sites that you can use to interact with your potential customers are essentially free, so you won’t have to spend any money in your marketing budget. Mention any promotions you’re offering on these sites and you’ll have the ability to connect with a massive amount of potential customers. Since we’re all so connected to the internet, it only makes sense to tie in your campaigns to popular social sites. Share a discount on Facebook. Remind your followers of your promotions on Twitter. Social media sites make all of your offers easily shareable, which is great for drawing in new customers, as well as reminding previous customers that you’re a worthwhile place to shop.
Social media networks are also the perfect place to run any quick contests. For example, a photo contest through Facebook allows followers to upload their own pictures in order to win some sort of discount or promotion. By engaging customers, you’ll develop a deeper relationship with them, and remind them that you’re a company that cares about their shopping experience. Show your fun and playful side and you’ll engage more potential customers.
Sending out a newsletter is a good way to get information out about your company and your offers for a last-minute campaign. If you already have email addresses from previous customers, or people are able to opt-in through your website, you can send out a newsletter to keep in touch throughout the year. Thank them for being a loyal customer and offer them some sort of discount for their previous business. This will help you stay engaged with your customers and potentially bring in more business. Preparing a monthly newsletter is a great example of low-cost email marketing for your company.
Supporting community events or sponsoring charities during any time of the year is a great way to generate awareness and interest for your business. It might seem like you need a lot of money to get involved, but that’s not necessarily the case. You can provide space in your physical location, volunteer services, or find another creative way to help out. Getting involved in community events will help you build a relationship with your community and support your local area.
In terms of creating more content, video is the way to go. Maybe have your office record a special seasonal message, depending on the time of year, in order to engage your customers and thank them for their business. Think of a creative way to incorporate your products and services into a short video message. Remind people of what you have to offer and why it’s better than what your competitors are offering. Many retailers forget about the power of shareable video content and how it can assist them and possibly drive in more sales.
When it comes to making an impact with little money to spare, low-cost marketing tactics will help drive in more business, and build customer loyalty. There are plenty of marketing ideas you can choose from, so do your best to build a campaign for your company based on your available budget. There’s always something you can do!
What are some low-cost marketing tactics you’ve utilized for your company? What has worked best for your last-minute campaigns? Please share with us!