When you own a small business, it can be difficult to compete with the slick advertising campaigns of the bigger companies. So how do you get your message out there in a way that will reach your potential customers? While there are a lot of cheap ways to advertise, you need to ensure that the methods that you choose will be effective. Here are some affordable options.
Google Adwords. With Google Adwords, you select specific search terms and when Google users type your terms into the search engine, your advertisement appears. When used properly, Google Adwords is an effective method of advertising because it is specific, targeted, and you only pay when users click on your advertisement. Google also provides a multitude of tools to allow you to measure the success of your Adwords campaign.
Sponsoring a community event. While supporting the community is important, you need to be strategic about it. When sponsoring a community event, a good approach is to hand out vouchers for a free gift. That way, when customers retrieve their gift, you have actually brought them to your business and you are able to accurately measure the impact of this strategy.
Related: Does Your Business Have A Mission? Define It.
Referral Programs. Referral programs are great because you only have to pay when you actually get a new customer. Word of mouth is an effective form of advertising and anything that you can do to encourage your customers to talk about your business will benefit you.
Social media. Achieving positive results with your social media campaign requires a clear strategy and a consistent effort. Many companies use social media to spread awareness of their products and to engage their customers. Offer promotions on social media that customers can’t get anywhere else. These promotions are a good way to measure your impact. It doesn’t really matter how many followers or connections you have on your social media sites. What you really need is to see how many customers your social media presence brings through the door.
While you do need to be more creative when you have a limited advertising budget, it doesn’t necessarily put you at a disadvantage. An affordable advertising strategy can be just as, or even more effective than an expensive one. The key is to stay focused on your outcomes so that you can take immediate action if a strategy isn’t bringing you customers.
Mompreneur® Showcase Group Inc.
Mompreneur® Showcase Group Inc.is the trusted national network that supports, educates, and empowers moms in business across Canada. With close to 20 satellite locations in Ontario, supportive networking groups are expanding to other provinces to connect business women everywhere from East to West. Highlights include over 10,000 members, presentation of the "Mompreneur® Award of Excellence" and the MOMpreneur® Magazine. Contact Head Office for further information on licensing or becoming a member.
Related: Social Media Webinar Part II: Facebook, Twitter and Beyond
Maria Locker
Founder & CEO, Mompreneur Showcase Group Inc
Tags: marketing, strategies, adventure, good, sleep, brand, flow, messaging, mompreneur, recognising, strategy
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