We’ve been in the biz for over 30 years here at Mad 4 Marketing, and one thing that we’ve heard since the start—and may never stop hearing—is that a small budget is the biggest hurdle for companies trying to market effectively.
That doesn’t need to be true (and we’ll say it every day for another three decades if we need to).
Marketing on a limited budget can feel daunting, but small businesses have more low-cost opportunities than ever before. Here’s some of our best advice for how to maximize marketing impact without breaking the bank:
Leverage social media. Listen: Social media is free (if you don’t need one of those fancy blue checkmarks). But even more impressively, many platforms offer free engagement tracking tools to help you gain insights about your audience and how your content is performing. Add to that the fact that some posting tools for various channels are also free! Free, free, and free—the three magic words for every modest marketing budget.
Build an email/subscription list. The key to marketing successfully is simply reaching your audience with your messaging. A very cost-friendly way to do that is by building a large subscriber base or email list, so that you can communicate regularly with those who are interested in your products and services. Whether it’s company updates, discounts and offers, or just reaching out to touch base once in a while with receptive audiences, a strong and well-maintained contact list is vital for nurturing relationships and closing sales.
Optimize SEO. It isn’t expensive to be seen—but it’s necessary. And it does take a little knowledge of how current algorithms are working to boost certain results to the top of a browser’s search page. But once those tiny hurdles are overcome, you can implement SEO best practices to ensure that your company gets in front of the eyes of people who are already searching for what you offer. For a little help learning what you need to do to get your website to show up on the first page, feel free to reach out to the SEO pros at Mad 4 Marketing.
Use your network. From micro-influencers to reciprocal advertising partners, there are many ways that connecting with other people can help you get in front of your audience, without spending a fortune. For example, you can invite a local personality to be the face of one of your campaigns, and their following can connect with your brand through that positioning (this works best if your brands, products, or messages are complementary, so everyone benefits equally from the arrangement). You can also make deals with other local companies to promote one another’s brands.
If you want to devise a fully customized plan that makes the most of every cent in your marketing budget, reach out to the experts at Mad 4 Marketing. We work with clients of every size and ensure campaigns not only match their budgets but help them maximize returns.