3 Great Marketing Ideas for a Business on a Budget

Shoestring Marketing: 3 Great Ideas for a Business on a Budget

While a large-scale marketing campaign requires months of planning, a larger budget and usually with the help of a marketing expert, there are some small scale marketing ideas your business could implement today. Here are 3 ideas that will not only bring you fresh business, but will encourage former customers to return. If done correctly, these ideas could boost your business in a matter of weeks.

1. Give something away for free.

This is an easy one – and inexpensive. Choose one of your products or services, preferably one that doesn’t cost you a fortune, and set a date for a random winner to be chosen. Make the contest rules fairly simple: your clients only have to interact with you to win. They may do this by commenting on your blog, posting a link on your website or filling out an entry form (strategically placed on your website). Another good way to encourage sharing is to host a Twitter draw. The person who retweets your original message the most times wins. I’ve seen this really create a buzz on Twitter.

2. Reach out to a previously untapped audience.

All that this one requires is a little thought and some give-and-take. Think about where your clients spend their time. Leave brochures, business cards or flyers in places that aren’t competing for your business. Locally owned businesses, such as restaurants and dry cleaners work well for this type of thing. In turn, it’s a nice idea to promote their business as well.

Link sharing on websites is another great idea. Ask a related business to have a direct link to your business posted on their site; do the same for them in return.

3. Create a referral program.

After you have interacted with your client, ask them to take a minute to do a short survey. Ask questions about their recent visit, including what they like about what you do, and what they don’t like. At the end of the survey, ask them to provide you with the names of friends or colleagues who could benefit from your product or service as well. There are two benefits to this: you are provided with the names and contact details of potential new clients AND you gain valuable insight into what you are doing right, and perhaps, wrong.

While most of your customers will choose not to complete the survey, some will. If you want to boost survey response, try rewarding one lucky customer with a small gift for participating. For free online survey software, visit Survey Monkey’s site.