Congrats, you’ve decided to step out on your own!
Build credibility and establish yourself as a leader in your industry with consistent action and before long people will come to recognize you as the ‘go-to’ person in your field. While you continue to grow, check out these quick and easy ways to market yourself on a shoestring budget.
WORD OF MOUTH
This is by far the easiest form of organic advertising. Just ask someone to please tell a friend about what you do or ask for referrals from persons you have worked with, even if it was for free. Keep telling people about who you are, what you do, and form relationships along the way. You can even go a step further and offer some sort of referral incentive such as a discount off their next purchase just to encourage people to spread the word.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media is a great tool for people on a budget. Your challenge, however, is to determine which platform(s) your target is on. Once you’ve figured it out, really work those platforms by showing up every day, engaging in group conversations and really telling people that you are exactly what they need in their lives. Give valuable information, assist others in the various groups and let them know about you and how you can assist them. I would also recommend including a small budget for ads to help spread the word.
BLOGGING
This is a great way to really showcase your knowledge and expertise to the public. Depending on your industry, you can definitely use your own personal experiences to drive home specific points, and truly connect with your audience. No worries if you don’t have a website just yet; you can sign up at Medium and start blogging away. If writing isn’t your thing, consider video blogging (vlogging) to talk to your audience. Regardless of which you use, remember to share your content via social media and your email lists.
EMAIL MARKETING
This too is a great way to interact with persons and having a list is crucial to the life and longevity of your brand. Create a lead magnet to draw your potential customers in and keep them coming back for more by giving them helpful information. Don’t use your list only to sell. Instead, ask yourself: “What’s an issue my ideal client might be struggling with that has a fairly simple, actionable fix I can offer?” and build from there.
Once identified, speak directly to that with a compelling subject line that draws them in, and within the body of the email, give information, examples or even personal stories that relate to the issue—then give your offer with a powerful call to action.
DIRECT MESSAGING & COLD CALLING
This is super simple; just send the message or make the call. Sometimes all it takes is making that connection with a potential customer to get what you need and it doesn’t cost you a thing. Introduce yourself and focus the conversation on how you can assist them with whatever issues they may be having. Remember you are the solution so engage them by focusing on how you are exactly what they need.
NETWORKING
Nothing beats face-to-face conversations where you can share your passionate ideas with a brand-new pool of persons who are in need of your business right now. You get to be in a room with like-minded persons from all walks of life who are already in the right mindset, because they took the time to be present at the event. That means more meaningful connections and fertile soil for your growing business. So, put on your best outfit, get out there and be social.
COLLABORATION
Collaborating with other businesses is an awesome way to let customers feel they are getting ‘added value’ for shopping. Look for ways to partner with other business owners to promote yourself even further and bring more people to you. Can you offer a complimentary product to their customers or can you link with a competitor and offer their clients something extra special that they need? Getting together with other heavy hitters in your industry that you share the same target with can truly help promote your brand and you can leverage their marketing and advertising to promote yourself.
There you have it, seven ways to market your brand with little to no budget. Use the above in your marketing strategy to build your brand and make the money you deserve.
