MARKETING BEST PRACTICE
marketing on a shoestring budget – FIVE TOP TIPS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES
t’ s often said that“ the best things in life are free” and this can also be true in
Ibusiness. Many small businesses feel they simply do not have the budgets or resources for marketing and this activity often falls to the owner manager – just one more thing on a long‘ to do’ list.
Dwayne Stewart, Communications Manager at InterTradeIreland, discusses how to start marketing on a shoestring budget to get your message heard and understood.
1. Create truly meaningful information
You and your business are‘ experts’ in what you do so work out why you should be the‘ voice of authority’ in your space. Start with reviewing the business, analyse what your competitors are offering and plug the gaps. Create a list of USPs( Unique Selling Points) for your product or service and consider how one of your team may be the‘ go to’ person for that industry.
Then turn these into interesting content in should be bitesize chunks that your audiences can easily understand.
2. Manage your online presence
Your website is often the‘ face’ of your business. Make sure it is visually appealing and user friendly. This will have an initial cost attached to it.
However, once up and running, populating your website is free. Ensure that your Blog is either on your website or links to it. Remember to track visitors through Google Analytics so you know what’ s working, what’ s not and react accordingly.
3. Keep it social
Social Media channels can be great tools particularly Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest if you have a visually appealing product. New platforms such as Facebook Live and Periscope allow for live video streaming, great for events and product launches. Snapchat can be useful to specifically target and engage with younger audiences.
4. Use your team and customers
Employees and customers can be your best ambassadors so let them tell your story in a‘ human interest’ way. Someone else being positive about your business says a lot more than you ever could.
It could be as simple as using your iPhone or Android device to video a customer testimonial and adding this to your website, blog or social media. Ask your customer to share it too, spreading the message even further.
5. Enter Awards
There is a range of Business Awards out there; from InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Awards and Northern Ireland Rising Stars( businessfirstonline. co. uk / risingstars) to CIM Marketing Excellence Awards and Northern Ireland Emerging Leaders 40 under 40( businessfirstonline. co. uk / 40under40). These are all free to enter and have many categories from which to choose.
How can InterTradeIreland help?
If you are a microbusiness looking to identify crossborder markets and customers to win new business, 100 per cent funding for specialist consultancy support is available through Elevate.
The Trade Accelerator Voucher scheme provides small businesses with financial support towards professional advice in relation to crossborder trading and regulation, such as legal, accountancy, marketing and other business services.
The FREE Simple Guide to CrossBorder Business can help business owners with simple and practical advice on all aspects of crossborder trading.
If you would like more details on any of the InterTradeIreland export supports, including eligibility criteria and application details,. intertradeireland. com / salesgrowth.
58 www. businessfirstonline. co. uk