When money is an issue, it’s time to sweat the details.
Let’s look at 5 ways you can get an easy marketing boost…
1. Update Your Website
In a land of nearly non-existent human attention spans, it has become more important than ever to refresh your Website often, and make sure that it is concise, informative and relevant.
Since a website is one of the most cost-effective ways to disseminate core information about your business – keeping your site tidy and up-to-date is essential for your success.
If you’re already using WordPress – excellent. This means that your site is also a Blog, and it will be easy for you to engage in conversations with your site visitors.
2. Start A Blog (if you don’t have a WordPress.org Site)
If you want your Business to have more than one voice on the Internet (and you should!), then setting up a Blog is one of the fastest and easiest methods.
Even with no marketing budget at all, you can set up a free hosted Blog at WordPress.com. or Blogger. So, you are only making excuses for yourself if you are saying “I can’t afford to Blog”. You can’t afford FREE??
“Blogging” is not difficult at all – it is simply writing about your business and engaging in online conversations with your site visitors. I’m doing it right now. And if I can do it, you can too!
3. Evaluate Your Marketing Message
Surely every small business owner knows how important it is to stand out with memorable marketing messages. Hopefully by now you have already developed your Unique Selling Position (USP), have a nice colorful logo, and a catchy tagline.
But as things become even more challenging, it helps to have something NEW to show rather than just some bells and whistles; preferably something relevant to the current economic climate. Coupons get a lot of attention these days!
Remember to remain focused on your customers and adjust your core message to address their current interests and needs.
Why not start by looking at your core marketing message: what are you really saying to your clients and customers?
Remember: your business is not about you – it is ALWAYS about your customer.
4. Get Some Social Media Buzz
Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Foursquare…it can all make your head spin. (Well, it makes my head spin!)
There are seemingly endless varieties of social media networks that can help get you some media buzz FAST.
If it is true that over half of the global internet population visits social networks, then why would you NOT use one of these free social media tools to reach more customers?
Beware though: social media marketing can take up a lot of time and energy.
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5. Network Like Crazy
Rather than constantly whining about “how slow business is”, why not use any extra time you have to network with other small business owners in your area.
Reaching out and being helpful in these challenging times can generate a lot of positive feedback for your business.
After all, word-of-mouth is a powerful marketing tool. And it’s FREE.