Top Marketing Tips for Businesses on a Low Budget
by Barney Hughes
1. Overview
1.1. Most small-business owners, especially those starting out, don’t have lots of money to spend on marketing
1.2. While the old adage — you need to spend money to make money — is true, you can still generate new business without having to dole out big bucks.
2. Small-Business Network
2.1. Develop a marketing mastermind group with other small-business owners for the purpose of sharing low-cost marketing ideas and referring each other business.
3. Relationship Building
3.1. Focus on relationship-building marketing strategies such as
3.1.1. networking
3.1.2. building alliances with other businesses
3.1.3. calling old customers, friends and people you once worked with.
4. Commission Based Marketing
4.1. Find people who are prepared to help you with marketing on a commission basis
4.1.1. or a uni student who’s studying marketing and might need some hands-on experience.
5. Online Marketing
5.1. Sharpen your own online marketing skills
5.1.1. learn how to use Google AdWords
5.1.2. write blogs
5.1.3. and market yourself on the social media sites.
6. Directories
6.1. Promote your business on free online directories and publish your articles on other websites with links to your site.
7. WARNING!
7.1. Don’t jump straight into low-cost (or no-cost) tactics without getting the basics right first
7.1.1. plan your marketing strategy
7.1.2. understand your target market
7.1.3. polish up your product.