We all know that the Internet has given us many opportunities to create a fantastic online presence that will yield the results we’re after for our business. However, in spite of the many practical tools we can use, and the Internet itself, things aren’t as simple as they seem. In fact, maintain a thriving online business is not an easy task at all!
You see, nowadays, users from all over the world have access to all sorts of information. Furthermore, all of them can choose what they like and don’t like, and thus control what they see. So, to help you out on your way to glory, we carefully examined all the things that work when it comes to online marketing. Also, since most businesses are working on a tight budget, we made sure that all these tips are inexpensive and suitable for startups.
Without further ado, here’s our ….
7 tips for online marketing on a budget
1. Know who your audience is
No matter how great you think your marketing strategy is, if you’re targeting the wrong audience, you won’t get anywhere. It would be like trying to market makeup to babies – it just won’t work!
So, you’ll have to figure out who your potential customers are. Think about their interests and whether they would like to use your products. Who are they – men or women? How old should they be and are you targeting the rich people or the middle class? It’s safe to say that this isn’t easy, but you can do it yourself without the help of some fancy firm that will ask you to pay in order to find out more about your market. It’s your product – trust us, you know who your customers are!
Once you know to whom you should be marketing your products, your other marketing efforts won’t be that difficult to implement. However, Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, lower your expectations a bit and practice patience while learning how and where to engage with your audience. Don’t go for the obvious solution and pick a rapidly growing social network like Pinterest. You have to figure out if you’re audience would be willing to use your products. So, if Pinterest isn’t the place you would find your product, then try something else.
2. Figure out your goals, reach them and then – set new ones!
One of the most important things about online marketing is having goals. Therefore, make sure you’ve set them before you start any marketing campaign. After all, how will you know if you’ve had some success if you cannot measure it in any way? Also, don’t worry if you have multiple goals – all the best businesses have. Maybe you want to increase brand awareness and boost your profit at the same time. Whatever it is that you wish for, don’t settle for anything less.
Finally, once you reach those goals, set some new ones. That way, you’ll have a chance to continue improving your business one goal at a time.
3. Don’t forget to set a clear budget
Do you think that a tight budget and online marketing don’t mix? Well, think again. The Internet is a wonderful thing in more ways than one. Namely, it also offers free online marketing tools, such as social media platforms, that you can use until you get extra money.
However, make sure you’ve planned out your budget before you begin your campaign. It’s crucial to keep track of your finances so that you can know what works and what doesn’t. Furthermore, once you use the free tools to their fullest potential, you can maybe consider some other tools for which you’ll have to pay. Even though that might dent your budget a little bit, the results you’ll receive will be worth it.
4. Think about your branding
In order to sell products or services and make money, you will have to set yourself apart from the competition. Therefore, think about how you can make your brand visible, and above all else, unforgettable. This sort of branding should start from your website, which ought to have your business’s name as the domain name. That way, your potential customers will be able to find you online without too much hassle.
However, if there’s a company with a similar name, you may want to consider changing yours. After all, you don’t want your products to be confused with your competitor’s, especially if they are valuable and of high quality.
Still, bear in mind that you’ll have to pay to get the domain name you want. But, on the bright side, hosting services are inexpensive, so you can easily fit them right into your budget.
Furthermore, you probably have the highest opinion about your brand, and you want your customers to see it that way too. However, in order to achieve that, your branding has to be on point and consistent. Don’t change it up every now and then – you might drive your customers away! Stick to professionalism and incorporate it into every little bit of your business, especially your website and your social media accounts.
Once you have that, it will be easier for you to interact with your customers and connect with them. That way, you’ll get returning customers just because you’ve put in the effort to learn more about their needs and wants.
Your branding will require you to put in hours of effort, but in the end, it will all pay off. Trust us – the amount of effort goes down once your popularity goes up!
5. Invest in SEO
Search engine optimisation is a must-have for every business out there. If you want to succeed online, you’ll have to use your skills to optimise your website so that search engines like it. Therefore, find relevant keywords and add them to high-quality content on your website. Format the content, as well as the headlines and the description so that they are unique. That will serve as evidence to search engines that your website is valid and reliable. Also, don’t neglect backlinking, as that can also affect the way your business website ranks on search engines.
Now, we know what you might be thinking – this seems time-consuming. But, believe us, without SEO, it will be difficult to, essentially, put your website “on the map”. So, even though SEO requires you to hire experts who will research keywords and other data, that money will be well spent. One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they just add keywords so that they can rank better. Instead, it’s best to use common terms your potentials are interested in so that by visiting your website, they become your next customers.
6. Start a blog
Now, you may not have a knack for creative writing, but consider this: search engines love new content, and they think that “more is more”. Furthermore, blogs can bring in new customers like it’s the easiest thing ever, as well as generate links that will lead others to your website. So, it would be wise to start a blog on your website so that you can engage with your audience. But, beware – it’s easy to write low-quality content and hope for the best. Still, in the end, that won’t bring you conversions.
You ought to invest time in quality blog posts and produce content that will serve a purpose. Also, consider guest blogging on other relevant blogs, as that can also boost the traffic and help your potential customers find you online.
7. Use the power of social media
Twitter, Instagram and Facebook – this is the holy trinity of social media that will allow you to get to know your customers, as well as acquire new ones. So, what are you waiting for? If you’ve already signed up and have accounts on these platforms, use them to your advantage!
Social media platforms are a great way to promote your business, your website and even your blog posts. Not only will your “fans” and “followers” get updates in real-time, but you can also give them sneak peaks of new products and releases.
However, using social media is not that easy. You have to think of a way to attract your audience. They need a good reason to follow you! If you just serve them boring content every now and then, they will leave. So, make sure you’re giving it your best. That way, you may hope for glory in the future.
Related content:
Top 10 Marketing Strategies For Small Business
Final thoughts
Your online marketing budget doesn’t have to be an obstacle. Many companies started with just a little bit of money, and they turned that amount into thousands in just a few years. How did they do it? They did it by smartly assessing what they can and what they cannot do, and then investing in those tools that actually work.
Even if you’re more than aware that you cannot make big investments in marketing, there are still some things you can use! The Internet is full of resources, as well as tools that can help you build your brand’s reputation. So, start now, and you’ll soon see the results for yourself!
If you require further information or have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to give a member of the GoPromotional team a call on 0800 0148 970 or simply email us today.
