You’ve worked hard to build your small business, and you work hard every day to reach the goals you’re after. I love the passion and the tenacity you bring to your small business. And I love even more to see my small business peeps reach for their goals and plan for their futures! Because let’s get real — good things don’t just walk in small business’s door. Now more than ever, it’s important to have a plan. Make the time for your small business’ future, and you’ll be glad you did.
I’ve previously shared why you should review your small business’s performance in 2016 and why you should write yourself a marketing plan for 2017.
After reviewing and planning, now it’s time to start doing!
There are hundreds of ways (if not more, but who’s counting) that you can spread your brand’s spirit with your target audience. And with those hundreds of ways, you could spend thousands and thousands (even millions, people) of dollars to see them through.
I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to spend big chunks of your hard-earned profits or burn through your marketing budget. Marketing and communication can be done inexpensively, and done well.
Many small business owners or marketing teams can incorporate the following items into their marketing plans with little damage to the marketing funds.
- Blog about it
If you’re reading these here words, you’re experiencing the power of a blog, where you can connect with your audience for a teeny tiny price tag and provide them valuable content. If you need help getting started, check out why to blog and how to make your blog dang good.
- Video saved the small business star
We’re no radio stars, which is good, because video is a big deal for 2017. You can invest in a good video for a few hundred dollars, or you can pull out your smartphone and shoot more homemade footage for an even smaller budget. As long as you’re staying true to the spirit of your brand and providing value to your customer, you can’t go wrong.
- Start a conversation with your customer
Many small businesses (and big-name brands, too, mind you) mainly use social media to shout messages into the internet. But, big shocker, people don’t like to be shouted at. They like to be talked to, like real human beings. So small businesses that can engage in meaningful conversations with their target audiences will make a greater impact with these low- to no-cost marketing platforms.
- Share successes
Word of mouth marketing still prevails as one of the most influential ways to drive customers and prospects to action. While you can’t force word of mouth, you can leverage a customer success by sharing it with others. Either through a case study or a simple testimonial, you can share the real-life value your offering provided, and do so for little investment and huge return.
- Build a network and work together
Your small business may feel like an island, but chances are, there’s an industry or club or association that you’d fit right in with. Join these sorts of groups and keep an open mind about what opportunities they may present in the short-term or long-term. If your small business is new and you’re looking for a group of others in your same boat who can provide support, feedback and more, consider taking part in the Launch League.
Need help with any of these small business marketing tools? Zao525 is here! We can work with you in your budget to create stellar communication pieces!
