Top 10 Low-cost Marketing Strategies For Startups
Are you in search of low-cost marketing strategies for startups? One thing a couple of startups share in common is a tight startup budget. However, your business can be an exception with the help of some effective, low-cost marketing strategies. This means that you get to market your products and services to prospective customers without breaking the bank.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 low-cost marketing strategies to adopt as startups.
Top 10 Low-cost Marketing Strategies for Startups
Personal Branding
Personal branding has quite much in common with corporate branding. The difference here is that this applies to you as an individual. With personal branding, you promote your person rather than your business. You put a face and a name to the business you run or the service you render. While doing this, people see and relate to the human side, thereby earning you some followers and more traffic. Personal branding comes with many benefits, and you have access to all of these without paying a dime.
Referrals
One of the best low-cost marketing strategies is through referrals. Letting your customers do the job of marketing your products/services works magic. People are more likely to buy a product or pay for a service when a friend recommends it. A good way to encourage referrals is by giving your current customers a discount for referrals from them. Another way is by paying them a commission for each customer they bring through an affiliate program. Having your customers advertise your products and services takes the burden off your shoulders as a startup.
Content Marketing
When done the right way, content marketing can boost brand reputation and increase traffic. It can take the form of videos, infographics, blog content, posters, e.t.c. One of the most common approaches is setting up a blog or social media page. Here, you get to update your audience with interesting content about your services.
For content marketing to yield the desired result, you need to post great and relatable content consistently. With content marketing, you don’t necessarily have to create content back-to-back. An easy way around it is through user-generated content.
Leverage Google Maps
Google maps marketing comes in handy on several occasions. The importance of Google Maps isn’t restricted to navigating in the right direction. People also make use of it when searching for businesses around them. While people might not necessarily search for your business on the map, having it there helps with brand recognition. In addition, customers can also leave comments and reviews that’ll be useful to your business. Hence, the need to provide excellent customer service.
Social Media Marketing
There are different social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, e.t.c. help you to build a community. In terms of low-cost marketing strategies, the importance of social media marketing cannot be overemphasized. As a startup, you need access to a strong customer base. What better way to do that than through social media marketing? The good thing about social media is you don’t have to spend so much money. For free, you can connect with your existing customers, grow your audience, and promote your services effortlessly. Displaying your expertise on social media helps prospective clients to trust you more, thereby paying for your services.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If you’re into content marketing, you should also make improving your search engine optimization a priority. With SEO, you’re able to identify industry and niche relevant keywords that can improve and drive traffic to your website or blog. However, that’s not all there is to SEO. To make it work, you must also put in the effort to create high-quality content that your target audience will find useful.
SEO feels technical to some people. Not to worry though, there are several articles out there that break down SEO in the simplest form possible.
Host a Give-Away
People love freebies, that’s a long-established fact. Several business owners on social media have leveraged give-aways in building and growing their communities. Sometimes, this growth,, in return generates more leads for your business. If you’re looking to grow your business fast, adopting this strategy is one of the easiest ways to do so.
Google My Business
One of the most effective and free tools for local businesses and startups is Google My Business. With a Google business profile, your business gets listed and shows up on Google Maps. However, for your business profile to rank higher on local results, it needs to be verified. You can set up Becauseerified ownership of your business through your Google My Business account.
Leverage LinkedIn
LinkedIn is one social media platform that is often underestimated and under-utilized. On this platform, it is not enough to just add connections and forget about them. You have to take things a step further by engaging with your connections, join in forum conversations, e.t.c. By creating valuable content and engaging with other professionals, you carve out a niche for yourself and build your brand.
Email Marketing
Building an email list grants you direct contact with your customers. What’s more? It is quite easy to manage. Regardless of what business sector you’re into, a great way to constantly stay in touch with your customers is through email. Also, it helps you to win over your business’ potential customers.
Conclusion
As a startup, adopting some low-cost marketing strategies is essential to the growth of your business. Considering the fact that some startups have very little or no direct access to fundings, these strategies are the best bet. You can build your business from scratch without breaking the bank, all you need is some creative marketing.
