We’ve all heard the phrase, “you have to spend money to make money,” and there is some truth to that in nearly every industry. When it comes to marketing, it’s awesome if you can invest in a dedicated team, but when money’s tight, there are some low-cost ideas that you can call on to give your business an extra boost. In that spirit, we’ve thought up five easy, low-cost tips that you can use to market your business.
Go Live
Have trouble connecting with your customer base? Studies show that 82% of people prefer to interact with a brand through a live feed (Facebook Live, Instagram Live, even TikTok Live) than a typical social post. There is something magnetic and genuine about the energy of a live feed.
The National Aquarium in Baltimore is particularly good at leveraging live streams by creating content that ranges from animal feeding times to featuring specific exhibits and tanks. It welcomes viewers into the inner workings of the aquarium and ignites a child-like sense of wonder, which helps build a strong, authentic bond with the audience.
Being on camera might be uncomfortable at first, but that’s the kind of charm that live feeds offer; they show the human side of your business. No big tricks or gimmicks, just you, the camera, and a loose format. The “Ask Me Anything” (#AMA) format is one that is widely used because it encourages the viewers to ask you questions and allows you to engage with them while establishing yourself as an expert in your field.
Short-Form Videos
If you prefer a more produced route, short-form videos are a fun, creative alternative to live streams. Facebook and Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok are just a few of the video platforms that businesses leverage to boost their brand. You can post educational content to show off your knowledge, or you can lean into personality posts that are funny, insightful, and shows who you are. No matter how you use it, short-from content is #1 in lead generation and engagement. It’s not just a trend, it’s an incredibly (cost) effective marketing tool!
Explore your Available Tools
Whether you pay top dollar for a website service or have a free version, there are probably some tools that you can consult to enhance your digital presence. Most website builders will have an area where you can mess around with the various SEO aspects of your site. That might be the meta description, combing through keywords, or setting titles for images. Each of these things adds up to optimize your SEO and get your website to stand out.
Optimizing your website is a good starting point, but don’t leave out social media! Your social pages can give you all kinds of insight into your current marketing efforts and your audience. Take Instagram; their analytics tools can tell you what age group, genders, and locations your audience comes from, which can help you craft curated content that is specific to them.
Network and Collaborate
Never underestimate the power of networking. It can introduce you to new clients, other industry professionals, and an audience you may have never reached otherwise. Aside from those obvious benefits, collaboration can be another way to improve SEO. Publishing a blog on another website or issuing a press release to news sources makes your brand name and links appear on other sites. It’s an effective way to build credibility in your field and get you closer to that coveted first page of Google results.
Bring this tactic to social media! If you are having trouble with the reach of your pages, interacting and encouraging others to engage with other relevant brand pages can help to grow your platform. The crafting community is a stellar example of this. If you’ve never seen how the resin tumbler groups interact, connect, and elevate each other, you should check it out because it is encouraging to say the least.
We are stuck in the ’90s with the “You’ve got mail” voice ringing through our heads, but this communication method dates back to 1971. Since everyone has an email address, this communication still reigns supreme and is the perfect way to communicate with your audience and grow your customer pool. Brands like Chubbies have mastered the art of email with hilarious, consistent campaigns that always perform well.
Email marketing has proven to have an impressive return on investment, with about $36 return on every $1 spent 😮. If a store offered a membership program that gave you $36 for every dollar, you’d want to be a part of it, so do the same for your business!
To Sum it Up
Marketing isn’t easy, or else DAY Vision wouldn’t exist! On the flip side, you should feel empowered to take on some aspects of your brand’s marketing. By taking on even just two or three of these suggestions, you can save a buck on marketing while boosting your brand.
As for the rest of your marketing and advertising plan, you’re going to want more help. DAY Vision is a team of creative professionals who know the nuances of the digital world, so you stand out! See our portfolio to see what we can do!
Need help? Chat with us anytime!