By Brian McKay
To make your brand stand out in a sea of other companies is no easy feat in this day and age. And if you are on a budget it may seem even more frustrating. However, there are many cost-effective ways that you connect with loyal and potential customers. And they will all help you build a better brand. Let's take a look at some affordable marketing ideas that will give your brand a head start.
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Social Media
In this day and age, if your business doesn’t have a social media presence, people will find it odd! You can use anything from Google Plus to Instagram and Twitter to Facebook. Or even YouTube or Pinterest if you want to branch out. If you have limited time and staff, however, it is best to concentrate on just two platforms and make them stand out. Social media platforms are a fantastic way to use a free space to produce enticing, informative content that can reach thousands. As a rule of thumb, if you are investing time into social media, always make sure to respond to your customer's posts. And also post engaging content and images frequently. Offer incentives, promotions, and competitions and build a valuable and trusted community of followers. If budget allows, platforms such as Twitter and Facebook also enable you to pay for adverts. These can be set to reach your target audiences on a global scale. And there also many social analytic tools out there that let you monitor how effective your content and reach is.
Feather Banners
Is your business located somewhere that high traffic flows through? If so, consider investing in large feather banners to promote your brand. These can be planted outside your office space, so everyone knows exactly where you are and who you are. Feather banners are cost-effective and provide a large area to which you can add all your details. Include your logo, strapline and any other information you think may well attract new customers. If you want to find out how feather banners can work for your business, take a look right here, eventdisplay.com.au/feather-banners. Feather banners are also great to use at trade shows and events when you want to make an impact.
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Write For Industry Magazines
If you want some effective free marketing for your business, look into writing for a relevant industry magazine. Everything from hair and beauty to engineering has trade magazines. And they are always looking for new and inspiring content. Work on a mutually beneficial agreement. This means making sure your published content also includes your logo and brand info. And writing for such magazines will also highlight your technical expertise. Advertising in such magazines can be expensive, but if you offer a free article, you will reap the benefits of such advertising for none of the cost.
Get Networking
Start expanding your contacts and getting your name out there by joining in with networking. Whether you put your company up for an award or attend local business networking events, it’s a fantastic free way to make your face and brand known. Networking in person gives you the opportunity to build long-term relationships with other businesses. And it is a great way to meet potential clients. Networking is about creating mutually beneficial relationships. And it creates trust and partnerships with other businesses that all have the same end goal. Spending an evening with other business owners is also a super way to get a fresh perspective and new ideas for your own brand. Being visible in your community will raise your profile and open up doors you never even knew were there. So jump on this free opportunity of marketing your own business while having a great night out too!
Brian McKay is a co-founder of zenruption. He has a B.A. in Political Science from Gonzaga University and an M.B.A. from Boise State University (yes that blue field). His goal in life is to look out for the regular guy and bring as much knowledge and change to this world as he can. His purpose in founding Zenruption was to do just that and help craft the world he wants his daughter to inherit. Please feel free to email him any feedback or article ideas at [email protected]. On twitter: @brianmckay71
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briguy71