Effective advertising doesn’t have to be expensive.
Unfortunately, many small business owners don’t know that.
Most people think that the more money you splurge on ads, the better your conversions.
But, this usually is far from the case. Small businesses like yours can still use less money to advertise effectively.
Here are some of the tips to help you out with some effective small business advertising ideas.
Content Marketing
Content is King. You might have heard this several times before. But, what does it mean?
Without sharing content, people aren’t going to find you. Content marketing is a method of subtle advertising where you share free information.
This can be about the products in your niche or general information in your industry.
Content shared has to be beneficial to your audience.
Creating content is usually seen as a major hurdle but you can learn more about some techniques you can implement here.
Social Media Marketing
You can share on your blog or social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and more.
With content marketing, you get to create an online community that will promote you.
The bigger and more loyal your audience, the more you can expect them to advertise on your behalf.
With time, you will be making getting conversions thanks to the free content you share online.
However, you need to take the time to understand your target audience. Put yourself in their shoes and see if your content is helpful to them.
Idea:
Create how-to videos and post them to YouTube. Then you can use smaller snippets and post them to social media. Try to connect each platform with one another, blog to social media, social media to blog etc.
Pixel Your Audience
If you already own a website, you need to use Facebook’s pixel tool to help you optimize your ads.
Assuming that people are already flowing to your site, you will be able to retarget them with ads.
Pixels make things easier because by taking away the guesswork when advertising.
You don’t need to worry about casting your net wide and spending a lot of money. Instead, you can focus on the people already interested in what you have to offer.
Here’s an example:
The campaigns above were created using a Facebook pixel. The audience was then expanded using a ‘lookalike’ audience, who are similar to people who have been to the website.
A lot of advertising takes testing but with a pixel, you’ll be able to take some of the guesswork out and have a more efficient starting point.
The bottom line is that it’s about trust; people who know you, will be more likely to trust you and buy from you.
Go Live
People want to know who is behind the product they are using.
Small businesses have the advantage of interacting with clients at a deeper level. You can do this by setting aside time each week or month to go live on different social platforms.
This can be the perfect time to address questions clients have or even to meet and greet. Going live shows clients that you are personable and approachable.
Once clients feel appreciated, they will start to share your content with more people. A bigger audience tuning into your live sessions means less money spent on advertising.
Idea
You can create a quick personalized video to each one of your customers thanking them for their business. Obviously, this would be difficult with several hundred customers but if you have a manageable number, it would be something that is thoughtful and appreciated!
Use Sponsored Post Tools
You don’t have to promote your products outside the platform you are already using.
Today, most of the websites already have their built-in methods to help you boost your sales.
For example, if you sell on Amazon, Amazon advertising allows you to sponsor ads for your products. This means you don’t have to use other complex methods outside the platform.
Sponsored ads help boost conversions because they target specific audiences.
Find Affiliates for Your Business
Did you know there was a way to pay for an advert only if you make a sale?
With affiliate marketing, you can find affiliates that market your business for you.
The best part is that you only give them a commission once they bring in a new client.
It’s an effective marketing method because you don’t have to worry about expenses. The best part about is that the affiliates get rewarded when they bring in a client.
Try to pick affiliates from the loyal clients you already have. Such customers will have an easier time telling others about your product.
Local Search Marketing
Google is the first place people head to when they need a product or service.
But, there could be many businesses in your area offering the same thing. You must understand the art of telling Google exactly what you have to offer. This allows them to rank your content on page one when people search for the kind of service you offer.
With a website, you can attract clients to your business when you share value.
Find the keywords used by prospects in the search query and include them in your blog content.
Quick Tip: to find keyword phrases that your potential customers are looking for, perform Google searches of questions like ‘how to’. From there, you can check ‘people also ask’ and ‘related searches’. If these search results don’t deliver great answers, this is your opportunity to provide better content!
This makes it easy for clients to find you organically without having to pay for PPC ads. Additionally, ensure that you have registered your business on Google for Business website. It also helps to use the right bio for your social platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Use Micro-Influencers
Influencers are opinion shapers. They can be celebrities or famous social media personalities.
Influencer marketing is beneficial when you pick someone with an engaged audience. Micro-influencers don’t need to have thousands of followers on social media. But, they do need to have a loyal and engaged audience.
According to a study, micro-influencers had the highest engagement rates on social media at 7%.
You don’t have to work hard to find such influencers. A quick search on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube should give you what you need.
Once you notice the type of engagement on their platform, you can approach them to discuss the price.
Wrapping Up: Take Action
From what you now know, it’s time to take action.
Create a strategy based around ‘quick wins’ (low-hanging fruit) and get to work.
You will realize that advertising can also work well when you are resourceful.
It’s not always about how much money you have for advertising. The method you choose needs to optimize conversions without having to overspend.
Lastly, focus on the customers you already have. How can you make them love your business even more?
Advertising to your existing customers is always more cost effective than trying to acquire new ones.
