Strategies for Marketing on a Tight Budget

You have to spend money to make money, right?  Just don’t get caught up in the tangle of thinking that you have to have thousands of dollars and a huge team of professionals at your beckoned call to make the most of your marketing efforts.  You can show your skills without scraping the bottom of the piggy bank if you just use a little bit of creativity.

• Local Celebrities:  Sure, everybody knows popular music stars and great athletes, and it would be amazing if you happened upon one of them and convinced them to endorse your product or service.  One day, that may happen, but until then, don’t just sit around and lie in wait.  There are tons of local celebrities in nearly every town, from news anchors to political authority figures (and everywhere in between).  You may be so used to hearing their names and seeing their faces that you forget that they’re your town’s famous people.  It could be your local Connecticut mayor, or the star of Fairfield County’s top football team.  Leverage these locally known names to get your own name out there.  Offer them your products or services for free, and ask to use their name in a testimonial if they like the product.  Depending on the type of celebrity you choose and the industry that he or she is in, you may even be able to convince them to spotlight your business when they’re doing their own daily job.

• The “Go-To” Guy:  LinkedIn is a fantastic resource for professionals that are looking for jobs, seeking advice, or trying to build up their own network.  It’s also an amazing place for you to build your own reputation up as being the go-to authority figure for your industry.  You can create a group for free, which should fit nicely into your budget.  Once the group is created, use it to offer advice, recommendations, and suggestions, and let this be a forum that people go to when they need the type of products and services that you offer.  People tend to respond to interactive environments, so don’t be afraid to let this be a place that people can come and ask questions and respond to each other.  Of course, as the moderator and expert, you get to chime in at any time to offer your skillful suggestions.

• Get Written Up:  Okay, so in work and in school, this wouldn’t be the most desirable phrase, and it’s certainly not something that we would say happens to the most successful people in their respective environments.  However, when you’re looking for shoestring marketing tactics, getting written up in someone’s blog can be a lifesaver.  If done properly, it will drive curious viewers to your site, increase traffic, and, if all goes well, increase sales and income, too.  Find some blogs that make a big impact and already have their own traffic; look locally for this, too, as some local options may be able to drive traffic your way quickly, depending on your business.  The author of the blog should be pretty easy to contact, so touch base and let them know that you’re interested in sharing your skills with them in hopes of a positive exchange on their site.  Be ready to endorse your own product or service so you can let the author know how his or her readers will benefit from the content that you’ll be adding.  If you can, offer a small amount of your product or service that the blog author can give away to his or her readers.  Ultimately, this kind of good will contribution ends up being a win-win for everybody involved if done correctly.

• DIY Viewership:  YouTube is most certainly not an uncommon thing these days.  In fact, it’s a household name.  How many people use YouTube when they’re bored at the office?  Or go home and find DIY YouTube videos when they need a how-to lesson for stuff around the house?  The truth is, YouTube is used for nearly every industry, entertainment, and idea these days, and if you’re not contributing to the content, you may be missing out on a huge piece of the market.  Of course, you can pay a bunch of money to videography professionals to create a set and give you the right lighting, but while you’re working your way up the income totem pole, use your computer or phone’s capabilities to their fullest and make your own videos.  Similar to the content you would use on LinkedIn, you’ll want to be approachable (yes, you can be approachable and still professional!), and you’ll want to be helpful and useful because people will quickly tune out if you’re just throwing stagnant facts at them without any personality to back them up.  Don’t forget a clear call to action at the end.  Want them to “like” your page?  Tell them!  Want them to check out your site?  Make sure you tell them where to go and what to do!

• Explain Yourself:  Again, at first glance, this could look like a command being given to someone that’s getting in trouble.  On the contrary, in marketing, you want to be able to explain yourself, and you want to be able to do it well.  No need to spend loads of cash, headaches, and heartaches by trying to find a publisher that can help you hit it big with a hardcover.  These days, you can publish your own e-book for free.  Try out sites like Amazon where you can make a little cash while you’re busy building up your reputation.  Although you may make a little money for your efforts, what you’re main goal should be is building up an audience and traffic, so let any money gained be an added bonus.  Be sure that you create content that clearly explains your product or service and offers a benefit to the readers.  If you’re not a huge fan of writing, there are tons of professional ghost writers who are happy to help you move your thoughts onto the virtual pages of your book.

Remember, it’s not only what you do, it’s how you do it.  Thankfully, Optimum Systems Online had a number of affordable options and ideas to help you market yourself on a small budget.  Let us draw up a unique marketing plan with your realistic needs in mind!  With a little creativity and innovation, you’ll be on your way to a more marketed you in no time!

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