If you run a small business, then you already know that staying on top of expenses is among the most basic requirements of keeping your business afloat. And just covering operating costs can sometimes be a daunting task. But online marketing is an absolute necessity these days – one that often comes with a hefty price tag. But, does it have to be expensive?
While a lot can be said for pricey, professional internet marketing services, there’s absolutely no reason why a small business can’t accomplish a lot, all on their own. It may not be easy, but nothing of value ever is. Here are 5 things that you can do cheaply, in support of your business’s online marketing needs.
1. Create Great DIY Content
Hiring or contracting with a professional content writer, video producer or graphic artist can yield fantastic results for any business. But any kind of professional service costs a lot of money. Fortunately, there’s no reason you can’t produce some first-class content on your own. Writing articles isn’t that hard if you’re already an expert in what you do. It’s a developed skill, and you get better at it through practice. Additionally, there is a wide assortment of free and inexpensive digital resources for creating both still and video graphics. The point is that when you run a small business, the most practical approach for meeting your content needs is not going to be the same as big businesses. So, do it yourself!
2. Repurpose Old Content
As long as it’s still relevant, there’s no need to discard good content that you’ve used in the past. Simply make some adjustments and use it in another context or on another platform. If you had a good blog post a few months ago, for example, why not repurpose it into a new podcast? Why not use an old instructional video you posted on YouTube to create an infographic for Facebook? Recycling saves time and money, so don’t overlook it as a solution to your digital marketing needs.
3. Find Promotional Discounts for Online Advertising
Services like Facebook Advertising and Google Ads sometimes offer coupon rates to draw in new customers. If you’re already looking at digital marketing, then it should be a no-brainer to choose the lowest prices for advertising services. So, do look for these discounted rates. And if your discounted advertising campaign is successful, the additional revenue from new customers will later help to fund future advertising at normal rates.
4. Get Active with Social Networking
These days, everybody turns to social networking for almost all their information. But platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can be fickle. You can’t expect to see results from the one, annual post you make about your product or service. It’s not a passive resource. You have to be active, post engaging content frequently, react and reply to commenters and build positive and productive relationships. Become the celebrity your customers visit because you’re fun and interesting.
5. Host an Online Training Event or Webinar
Marketing is not just about advertising. In fact, the number one marketing activity that can make or break a business is relationship building. That’s why offering something useful to your potential clients that is not directly centered on sales is a productive activity. Whatever your field is, chances are you have at least a degree of expertise in it. So, surely there’s some basic skill you can teach them that won’t undermine your business. And, with the advancement of many new online meeting platforms in the pandemic era, there’s no reason why you can’t do it online.
In conclusion, every business these days needs to engage in digital marketing in order to get customers through the front door. But there’s no reason a small business should shell out massive amounts of cash to professional marketers when you can do it yourself for free or very cheaply. Saving costs is the name of the game when it comes to succeeding in business, so see for yourself how much you can accomplish on your own!
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