Not every small business has a marketing budget like the bigger companies. More often than not, entrepreneurs don’t even have a lot of extra time to get the word out on their goods and services. These basic marketing strategies for novices have been designed to fill that gap.
Basic Marketing Strategies
Optimize Your Content
Keywords attract clients. They need to be placed in strategic locations in the text on your website. Make sure they work with the topics your customers are searching for.
Advertise Online
Facebook Ads and Google Ads work great. These are cheaper than print, television and radio and they appeal to a wider audience.
Develop a Call to Action
Tell people exactly what you want them to do when they visit your site. The right Call To Action coverts visitors to sales.
Write a Blog
You can share specials and planned events on a blog. These are a great way to market in your own voice.
Publish a Book
Writing a book and self publishing it positions you as an expert in the field. Many business people even sell these on their websites.
Define Your Competition
This is the best way to make sure what you offer is different than your rivals in the same market. Doing a little research is invaluable.
Start Tweeting
Social media is free. It’s one of the best basic marketing strategies available. Posting on Twitter helps you to engage with you target market.
Create an Email Campaign
Putting together an email marketing campaign gets you out in front of your target audience. Everyone on your list will see your email message from in their inbox.
Use Facebook Ads
These help you to get out in front of a big audience. You can target these to a specific market for optimal effect.
Give Stuff Away
Free access to a report or blog is a value added way to turn visitors into clients. Whether you’re online or in a brick and mortar store, free stuff attracts customers.
Drop Your Price
If your competition is close in price to your product, dropping those numbers can increase your volume in sales and give you an advantage.
Streamline Your Brand
Take the time to research who’s buying your goods and services. Then funnel your branding efforts to language and visuals that they want.
Test Campaigns
Social media is a great place to monitor campaign results. Look at reactions to a Facebook page that’s linked to your latest campaign.
Create a Newsletter
Newsletters are quick and easy way to keep a mailing list up to date about new products and services. MailChimp is one of the more popular templates.
Include Images
These capture your reader’s attention and need to be included in posts and any website content you use for marketing. Get free images at places like Pixabay.
Run Contests
Engaging prospects is a great way to turn them into clients. A quiz, game or contest will grab the interest of visitors so you can get them on a mailing list.
Write Industry Articles
Becoming an expert in your industry is one of the best basic marketing strategies. Writing a series of articles for a trade publication positions you as an expert and these can be serialized as blog posts for optimal effect.
Do a Podcast
Getting out in front of an audience by using your voice adds the personal touch that can make a sale. If you’re stuck at first you can start by just reading out your blog posts.
Organize a Webinar
These are another great way to personalize basic marketing strategies. A webinar that details how your product works is a great idea.
Launch a Website
Regardless of the goods or services you’re selling, having a website is a prerequisite. Find a developer that can implement you vision.
Issue Press Releases
Whether you want to get the word out on events or new products, press releases work great. Make sure the topics are newsy and not too advertorial.
Broadcast on YouTube
Video needs to be part of any basic marketing strategies. Make an instructional video and place it on your website to win over prospects.
Use Integrated Marketing
Leverage a live event by announcing it on social media. A live feed increases your exposure tenfold.
Limit Some Offers
The best basic marketing strategies can be traditional. A limited time offer ramps up the scarcity of your goods and services.
Stress Customer Service
Give the people what they want. Stressing customer service creates a great reputation and buzz around your products.
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This article, “25 Basic Marketing Strategies for Beginners” was first published on Small Business Trends