By Annie Urban
SMBs may struggle with limited funds for their marketing plan. As such, SMB owners have to get scrappy and look for low and no-cost opportunities to promote their goods and services. The other common challenge for owners when it comes to marketing is the time commitment it takes. They are busy running their day-to-day business, and marketing is often something that gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list.
The great news is that there are ways for small companies to market without draining the bank account or monopolizing too much time. Here are four quick and free marketing ideas for your business.
Google My Business Account
This one is a must! A Google Business Profile is an easy, effective and free marketing tool that your SMB needs. This listing will allow your company to show up in Google search results and on Google Maps. Google is the clear leader in the search engine market, with a 92% market share as of January 2021. Additionally, you will be able to interact with your customers and respond to Google reviews. These reviews are a great way to monitor how your customers relate to your business.
Social Media
Surprise, surprise! Social media has become one of the most effective marketing strategies in today’s society. It is free and allows total control over what you choose to post and engage in. Social media provides a space to express your brand’s personality. It allows for immediate interaction, feedback, and an overall place to create relationships with consumers and potential consumers.
SMBs should post and engage on social media consistently. Here are some ways you can engage on these platforms.
– Post directly on your feed
– Post stories
– Run polls
– Create fun hashtags or giveaways
– Tag followers, other brands or celebrities
Blogs
Start a blog—it is a free way to promote your SMB and create relationships with consumers online. Blogging will help increase traffic on your website, user engagement and online visibility. Make it simple yet informative. Add them into your marketing routine as an easy and natural way to connect with consumers.
Videos
Video marketing is a great way to connect with your audience on what feels like a more personal level. You do not have to hire some expensive videographer to post product demos, instructional videos, conversations with your team, challenges, behind-the-scenes of your work or whatever else you want to share. Video marketing is simple to create with your iPhone or Android, with how high-quality phone cameras are today. Youtube, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram are all easy yet effective marketing platforms to distribute your videos.
We hope these tips can help jumpstart your marketing journey—let us know if you need help implementing any of these ideas. Learn more at tlcmarketingconsultants.com.