Use these cost-effective tactics to promote your small business.
Brand awareness is a top priority for any business, but for most entrepreneurs a marketing budget is not. Nearly 80 percent of entrepreneurs spend $500 or less on marketing per month and 40 percent spend less than $200 a month, according to a 2015 Infusionsoft study.
Stretch your marketing budget with these tips from Entrepreneur:
1. Email Marketing Still Rules
Email marketing is still one of the most cost-effective marketing efforts for small business owners. In 2014, marketers received an average return on investment of $44.25 for every $1 spent on email marketing, according to ExactTarget.com.
2. Be Quick and Mobile-Friendly
Customer sales are increasingly moving online, so spending your marketing dollars on a fast and mobile-friendly website is worth it. Entrepreneur suggests creating a semi-customized mobile version of your website, which can be done quickly and inexpensively on sites like Duda.
3. Research and Optimize
As you are creating a Web presence, so are thousands of other small business owners. Stand out in the digital crowd with search engine optimization. Search engines will reward you by pushing your site to the top, funneling more traffic to your website.
In addition, use these tips for making your small business blog more SEO-friendly.
4. Be More Social
Set aside some of your marketing budget for sponsored posts on Facebook or LinkedIn, which can put your brand, products and services in front of your target audience and help create an online community for your business. Choose the most effective social platform for your business using NFIB’s guide to social media marketing.
For more information on how to avoid high marketing costs, read NFIB’s analysis on how to market your business with $1,000 or less.
