Small Business Blues: 4 Ways to Market Your Small Business Online on a Shoestring Budget
As a small business owner, you probably already know how important it is to market your business online. While you might know the need, it’s sometimes hard to do when you’re operating on a shoestring budget.
Even when you’ve set your marketing budget and secured a loan from BlueTrustLoans.com to help pay for that marketing for a month or so, it’s still hard to figure out which are the most cost-effective methods to yield the best results. Luckily, there are quite a few cost-effective plans online. You can read about a few of them in this blog. It is also helpful to learn about your customer acquisition cost.
Referral Marketing
It is important to note at this point that over 80-percent of all businesses tend to fail in their first 18 months of business. If you don’t want to be one of those failed businesses, then referral marketing is key. Also, known as word of mouth marketing, this still remains one of the most effective ways to get the word out about your business.
For example, if you set up your website with links to go to review sites such as Yelp, then you’re going to be spreading the word about your business. This only works if customers are satisfied with the services and products you offer, however, so customer satisfaction should be your top priority.
Social Media Marketing
Anyone serious about growing their businesses customer base knows that social media is the best way to market on a shoestring budget. From Twitter to Facebook and from Instagram to Me-We, there are consumers on each who are willing to buy your products and services. Social media marketing has a learning curve, but once you master it, you might be surprised at how much your business grows.
Blogging
Not only is blogging a cost-effective way to reach your customers, but it’s also a fun way to reach them. It’s important to note that this is a marketing tool that isn’t going to yield results overnight. It takes months, sometimes years, to build a following and you must know your subject matter exceptionally well, but it is one of the best marketing options out there today if you have the dedication and determination to see it through.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Any business owner who hasn’t been living under a rock knows the importance of SEO marketing. While it can be quite complicated to perform search engine optimization without the help of an SEO analyst or a link building company, there are tons of books and articles available to help you master this highly useful marketing tool such as SEO for dummies type of books. The ability to link through effective SEO marketing will send your business into overdrive like no other type of advertising online can.
As a small business, your number one goal is to bring in more customers so your business can grow and succeed. While that may seem hard to do on a shoestring budget, the options above can help you without breaking the bank. Most of them take a good amount of work on your part and complete dedication, but that’s what owning your own business is all about, right?
