As a business owner, you have a limited budget to stretch across a variety of costs. Marketing is important — you need to drive customers to your store or website after all! — but often, the most effective marketing tools seem too expensive for a business budget. Fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case. With a little creativity, you can market your business successfully without overspending. Here are a few suggestions from the Safeguard team:
The Business Marketing Tips
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Digital advertising.
Print advertising can be egregiously expensive. While print ads are often highly effective, they may not be in your budget. Luckily, with the rise of new media and the prevalence of the Internet, digital advertising can be almost as effective at a fraction of the cost. Advertising in weekly newsletters, on websites relevant to your brand, and on popular social media accounts reaches potential customers quickly at a low cost.
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Know your message inside and out.
Before you start advertising your company, know your company’s mission inside and out. Developing a one line mission statement that encompasses your brand can help. So can anticipating questions that might be posed by customers in the future. Knowing your company helps you share your brand quickly and effectively, and boosts your overall sales.
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Encourage your customers to advertise for you.
Most businesses attract new customers by word-of-mouth. Someone likes a product? They tell all their friends who become your new customers! Encourage your customers to share how much they love your products by offering a discount for friends, asking them to share their purchases on social media, or giving away stickers, postcards, or t-shirts with your brand name (these will then become walking billboards!).
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Discounts.
Simply advertising your brand in print or digital media may attract the eyes of interested customers, but it may not be enough to draw them to your website or store. Offering a discount, however, can be the tipping point. You can even be creative with how you advertise your discounts, perhaps by designing flashy postcards or offering a giveaway on social media. Discounts are an easy way to drive customers to make purchases!
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Talk in person.
While advertising online or in the mail can certainly get the word out about your business, nothing beats talking to a customer face to face. Don’t be afraid to step out of your brick and mortar store to meet passersby on the sidewalk or drop in other local businesses to create work relationships. If there’s a nearby event that relates to your business, why not drop by and advertise your products by hosting a booth or handing out postcards? The interpersonal connection is sure to make a lasting impression.
Try Safeguard!
Has the information on our blog helped you? We can do more! A Safeguard consultant can help you with marketing solutions, print product design, and more. Contact us for a consultation.