Guest Author: Andy Hughes
Business marketing is the only way to guarantee business growth, which is why all businesses must set aside marketing budgets every year. Unfortunately, you may have limited resources and a small marketing budget if you are starting, but that shouldn’t worry you. Some marketing channels are free to use, while some are pretty affordable. Here are eight top marketing strategies to consider for your business.
Networking
Networking is perhaps the most important marketing technique you have in your arsenal. It’s through networking that you’ll let people know about your business, such as the services you offer or the products you sell. Join community groups, professional groups, business associations, and chambers of commerce to network.
Also, try to attend seminars in your industry and make sure you talk to a few people during breaks or at the end of the webinar. Networking will help you capture high-quality leads, create brand awareness, and make new contacts.
Asking for referrals
When you have satisfied customers, convert them into your brand ambassadors by asking them to spread your brand message to their friends and relatives. Doing this is the cheapest way of marketing your business, but it will only be successful if you offer exceptional customer service. With poor customer service, it will be almost impossible to get referrals.
Designing an appealing website
When potential customers hear about your business, the first thing they’ll do is Google your business name. That’s why you need to have an attractive, professionally designed website to give your business a positive first impression.
A professionally designed website from Findable Design will accurately reflect your business and your brand. Your website should have all the information about the services or products you offer. Make sure it is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. Also, make sure the website is SEO optimized to improve your search engine ranking.
Using social media
Social media is a potent marketing tool; Facebook alone has over 3 billion monthly active users, while Twitter has over 300 million monthly active users. This is a huge market that you can’t ignore. In addition, you can join other popular social media channels, including Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, and Instagram.
The advantage of social media marketing is that it allows you to interact directly with your potential customers on a one-to-one basis and in real time. For your social media marketing to be successful, however, make sure you are active on these platforms. Also, remember to use text, videos, and images to attract viewers.
Creating a well-designed logo
A logo is an essential component of branding. It is what makes the first impression strong. A logo differentiates your business from competitors and builds strong brand awareness.
Offering free products or coupons
Offering free products or coupons can help you attract new customers and build customer loyalty. Offering free products is an excellent way to entice your customers to tell their friends and relatives about your business. Gifts don’t need to be expensive; you can offer items like flowers, small books, or a drink. Coupons and discounts also work wonders for marketing. You can offer coupons and discounts to your most loyal customers.
Partnering with other businesses
When you partner with other businesses in your industry, you can cross-promote your services and products. For example, when running a gym, you can partner with a business that sells sports gear. This way, your partner can promote your gym while you also inform your clients about their products. Likewise, when you are running a private medical facility, you can partner with local pharmacies to promote one another.
Conclusion
As you can see, marketing your business doesn’t have to be expensive. You can start with free marketing channels like social media, and then, as your business gains root, you can upgrade to paid marketing channels. Whichever strategy you choose, make sure you support your marketing team to execute their mandate. Also, try to review your marketing strategies to determine whether they are helping you get the desired results.
To contact Andy you can email him at ahughes@vizzi.biz.