When you are starting your own business, you don’t have a lot of money to spend on marketing your products or services. But marketing is necessary. You want your target audience to know about your brand and your offerings.

How do you market on a small budget?

Here are some marketing strategies you can implement on a small budget.

Build a website

A website legitimizes your business. The first thing most people do is check you out online. If you have a professional-looking website, people are more likely to consider purchasing your products or services.

A website is the place that people can go to learn more about your business. In addition to the compelling content on your website, you can also post blogs, share an e-book, and share videos from your YouTube page.

Brand your business

Creating a brand identity for your business is part of your small business marketing strategy…or it should be. Brand identity includes your brand colors (which you will use on your website) and a professionally designed logo. Your logo should be used everywhere – on your business cards, on all your social media platforms, and even in your social media images.

Have a professional graphic designer create your logo for you. They will ask you questions and help you determine the best brand colors for your business and will create a memorable logo that will appeal to your target audience.

Perfect your elevator pitch

This is something you can do that costs you nothing but your time, but you will use it at every networking event.

An elevator pitch is a 30-second (or less), prepared speech that explains what your business does and generates interest in your brand.

A great elevator pitch is interesting and memorable, and it shows how your business is unique. It should not only highlight your product or service, but it should also touch on your company’s purpose and values.

Blog

Blogging has so many benefits. It raises your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for your website because you use your keywords in your title and the body of your blog. Your blog also provides value to your readers. You become the expert in your field when you blog with regularity.

Guest blog

Offer to write blogs for other businesses in your niche that don’t do exactly what you do. You will reach a whole new audience and they may like what they read and start following your blog.

Generate PR buzz

Anything is news. Did you just launch a new product? Hire a new employee? Win an award? Take advantage of these opportunities and write press releases about them.

You can hire a public relations professional (like Blue Lilac Marketing!) or you can write the press release yourself. Don’t be worried about sending your press release to big tech magazine editors or other business publications in your niche. They may be interested in your news.

Have a CTA on your homepage

A call-to-action is what you want your website visitor to do. On your home page you can ask them to sign up for your newsletter or download your whitepaper. This gives you a contact for your marketing funnel.

Try email marketing

Email marketing is an effective and low-cost way to reach potential customers and stay top-of-mind with current customers. Try sending out a weekly or monthly newsletter. This newsletter shouldn’t be spammy. Include blog posts you’ve written (not everyone takes the time to go to your blog page) and helpful tips or resources your readers will find valuable.

Employ social media

Pick one or two social media platforms where you know your target audience is and use them. Get comfortable with these platforms. Post regularly. Post content that reflects your brand voice and image and provides value to your target audience.

Interact with your followers by responding to comments, answering questions, and listening to them.

Do you need help with any of these marketing strategies? Blue Lilac Marketing Group can help!