Is your marketing budget tiny – or non-existent? It’s a common problem with local businesses that put everything they make into stock and payroll.
If you don’t have much to spend on marketing, you might wonder how you can ever grow your business. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to attract new customers without spending a penny or using low-cost marketing methods.
In this post, I’ve compiled 10 of my favourite free marketing ideas along with 10 low-cost ones for you to use in your business.
Table of Contents
Free Marketing Ideas No 1: Facebook Live Video
You might think of video marketing as expensive, and it certainly can be if you hire a professional videographer. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend that money – especially when you look at Facebook Live Video, which is free to anybody who wants to use it.
Because these videos are live, they’re usually held to a lower standard in terms of quality. You don’t need to be scripted – in fact, it’s better if you’re not. You can use Facebook Live to shoot how-to videos, give a behind-the-scenes tour, or answer questions from your followers. Then, you can edit and post the video to your blog or YouTube channel.
Free Marketing Ideas No 2: Become a Hashtag Expert
Hashtags are like social media signposts. They’re free to use and they point potential clients/customers in the direction of your content. The key is to choose and use the best hashtags – the ones that are most likely to attract people who’ll buy your products.
One option is to focus on community hashtags such as #ThrowbackThursday or #givingback. Just make sure to use them appropriately. You can also create your own hashtags that incorporate your business name or most popular product, along with locational tags that will help you reach a local audience.
Here is my favourite Hashtag Generator https://www.hashtag.expert/
Free Marketing Ideas No 3: Blog Regularly
Blogging for business is hardly a ground-breaking marketing strategy, but it’s one that you can do for free. Blog posts can be short or long and if they’re relevant to your business, they’re a great way to attract new people to your website.
The key is to choose blog topics that are highly useful to the people you want to attract. For example, you can do a series of blog posts answering common questions about your product or service. Add some relevant images and tags and you’ll be sure to attract some traffic – without spending money.
Free Marketing Ideas No 4: Cross-Post Everything
A lot of small businesses make the mistake of creating content for one outlet and not reusing it. That’s not ideal because it limits your scope and means you need to spend more time and money creating content.
Instead, come up with a cross-posting strategy that makes sense. For example, you might:
- Share blog posts on Facebook with an image that contains a pull quote from the blog
- Share visual content from Pinterest on Instagram
- Put pull quotes on images and share to Twitter with a shortened URL
- Create a Pinterest board with your most liked images from Instagram
There are dozens of ways to repurpose your social media content and share it elsewhere. The most important thing to remember is to keep the platform where you’re posting in mind. Always try to use relevant hashtags on your social media posts.
Free Marketing Ideas No 5: Create Your Own Free Graphics
You’ve probably noticed that infographics and other graphic images are popular on social media. While you could hire a designer to create images for you, there are also plenty of tools you can use to create them for free.
One of the best free tools is Canva, which has a ton of templates and tools to create social media posts, infographics and more. You may also want to check out Venngage to make infographics.
Free Marketing Ideas No 6: Encourage and Respond to Reviews
You already know that online reviews are important. Most people read reviews before purchasing products. You can use reviews to your advantage without spending any money.
First, you can encourage your existing customers to leave reviews of your business by asking them in person or in an email. You can also link to your review pages from your website. Once people post reviews, make sure to reply to all reviews, positive and negative, to show reviewers that you care about their opinions.
Make it easy for your customers to leave reviews by using QR codes which directly link to your favourite review site.
If you would like me to create a FREE dynamic QR code for your favourite review site or your website URL, simply send me the URL address using my contact form
Free Marketing Ideas No 7: Film or Write Customer Testimonials
A customer testimonial can do the same work as a review in a slightly more formal way. People are happy to be asked their opinion and many of your customers may be eager to help you out by filming or writing a testimonial.
Testimonials can be shared on your website, blog, or social media pages once they’re completed. They serve to inform people about your business and demonstrate what you can do for people who buy your products or services.
Free Marketing Ideas No 8: Publish a Newsletter
Email marketing is easy and affordable. If you have a small list, you can manage it using a free version of autoresponder software – and a newsletter is a great way to keep people informed about your business.
Newsletter articles can be very short, even as short as 100 or 150 words. Your goal should be to keep people updated on what’s happening with your business. You can also use newsletters to educate and inform your prospects and customers about what’s happening in your niche as well as preview new products and services.
Don’t miss out on our free monthly award-winning marketing magazine Clicks, which is designed to keep small businesses at the forefront of digital marketing trends.
Free Marketing Ideas No 9: Pair Up with Other Business Owners
Whatever your business does, the chances are good that you know other business owners who sell products or services that complement yours. For example, perhaps you sell furniture and there’s a boutique in your area that sells artwork and decorative items.
Identify businesses that mesh well with yours and cross-promote each other’s products and services. You can do this for free. You can even offer joint packages or deals to attract more customers.
Free Marketing Ideas No 10: Get Involved in Local Events
Finally, one of the best ways for local businesses to attract new customers is to get involved in local events. Does your town have an annual tree lighting or charity ball? Participating can help raise your profile and earn you some goodwill from the people who are most likely to buy from you.
You may also decide to:
- Sponsor a children’s football or rugby team
- Raise money for a local charity
- Help with a local street fair
The key is to find things you can do that won’t cost you anything. If you decide you can spend a little bit, then do it wisely and in a way, that’ll help to attract new clients/customers to your business.
Marketing doesn’t need to cost a fortune – or anything at all. These 10 free marketing ideas will help you kick-start your marketing, even if your budget is non-existent.
10 Easy Strategies for Growing Your Business Without Spending Much Money
1. Reach out to local bloggers
If you have a product or service that’s relevant to local bloggers, it’s worth reaching out to see if they’d be interested in writing about your business. Not only will this help you promote your business to a wider audience, but it can also lead to positive word-of-mouth marketing.
2. Create simple but effective ads.
If you don’t have much money to spend on marketing, it can still be worthwhile creating simple but effective ads. Ads that are well-designed and use high-quality graphics will help you attract attention from potential customers/clients.
3, Incorporate social media into your marketing campaign
Social media is a great way to reach a large audience quickly and cheaply. By using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter, you can share important information about your business with a wide range of people. Just select the right one or two social media platforms where your target audience hangs out.
4. Host a contest or giveaway
A giveaway is a great way to get customers excited about your product or service. Not only will this increase customer loyalty, but it can also lead to increased sales.
5. Take advantage of online advertising
Online advertising is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach a large number of potential customers. By using Google AdWords or other similar platforms, you can quickly and easily target your audience with targeted advertising.
6. It’s important not to give up if you don’t see immediate results from your marketing efforts.
Over time, if you continue to invest in your marketing strategy, you’ll likely see a positive return on your investment.
7. Use email marketing
Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach a large number of people with important information. By using email campaigns that are well-designed and targeted, you can reach a large number of potential customers.
8. Think outside the box
When it comes to marketing, there are no limits to what you can do. If you have an interesting product or service that’s not currently being marketed, don’t be afraid to try something new and exciting.
9. Create a refer-a-friend scheme
One of the best ways to get new customers is by referrals from current customers. By offering a referral programme to your friends and family, you can increase your business’s reach significantly. 10. Invest in marketing content If you have valuable information that you want to share with your target audience, investing in marketing content is a great way to do it. By creating blog posts, white papers,
10. Always be willing to experiment
One of the best things about marketing is that it’s always evolving. By trying new things and mixing up your marketing tactics, you’re more likely to find something that works well for your business.
Hopefully, these 10 free marketing ideas will help you attract new customers without spending a lot of money. If you have any other suggestions please let m know by sending a message via Facebook,
Don’t forget to join us in our Facebook group Marketing with Martin where group members receive regular and valuable marketing freebies.
Conclusion 10 of the Best Free Marketing Ideas.
1. Participate in local events
2. Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
3. Create engaging content
4. Incorporate social media into your marketing campaign
5. Host a contest or giveaway
6. Take advantage of online advertising
7. Be patient
8. Think outside the box
9. Email marketing
10. Don’t forget to follow us on LinkedIn for the latest news and updates and join our Facebook group for lots of marketing freebies
What are some creative marketing ideas for small businesses?
There are many creative marketing ideas that can be put into practice by small businesses. Some popular ideas include using social media platforms, hosting contests or giveaways, and investing in marketing content. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for your business, so be creative and have fun!
How do you come up with marketing ideas?
There are a variety of ways that small businesses can come up with ideas for marketing. Some common methods include brainstorming with coworkers, reading industry magazines, and using online resources. It’s important to find something that works well for your business, so be creative and have fun!
How do you attract new customers/clients?
There are a variety of ways that small businesses can attract new customers/clients. Some popular methods include using social media platforms, hosting contests or giveaways, and investing in marketing content. It’s important to experiment and find what works best for your business, so be creative and have fun!
How Much Should a Small Business Spend on Marketing?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount that a small business should spend on marketing will vary depending on its specific situation and objectives. However, it’s often worthwhile investing in well-designed ads, email marketing campaigns, and social media campaigns. It’s also important to think about how you can reach your target audience, so be creative and have fun.
What Is a Positioning Strategy?
A positioning strategy is a plan that businesses use to identify their unique selling points (USPs) and develop a marketing strategy that will position them in a favourable way with consumers. By developing a well-positioned strategy, businesses can increase market share and achieve greater profitability.
Why Is Online Marketing Important?
Online marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach a large number of potential customers. By using Google AdWords or other similar platforms, you can quickly and easily target your audience with targeted advertising. Additionally, online marketing can lead to increased web traffic and greater brand awareness.
Do low-cost marketing strategy ideas work?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the amount that a small business should spend on marketing will vary depending on its specific situation and objectives. However, it’s often worthwhile investing in well-designed ads, email marketing campaigns, and social media campaigns. It’s also important to think about how you can reach your target audience, so be creative and have fun!
Don’t have time to develop your own marketing strategy?
There are a variety of professional marketing services that small businesses can use to develop their own marketing strategy. These include marketing consulting firms, online advertising agencies, and social media management services. It’s important to find a service that fits your business well.
Contact us for a free local marketing strategy for your business.
Additional Resources on Free Marketing Ideas & Low-Cost Ones
16 Ways to Grow Your Business Without Spending Money by Bplans
27 Free & Low-Budget Marketing Ideas for Any Business by WordStream
15 Tips to Grow Your Business Online (without A Lot of Money) by wpbeginner
How to Grow a Small Business Without Money: 10 Affordable Tactics by FASTCAPITAL 360
FREE Social Media Resources
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30 Social Media Engagement Posts
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100 Motivational/Inspirational Facebook and Instagram posts. The ideal way to inspire your followers each day. These also come with a suggested text introduction. You can check them out here.
Some Of My Other Easy Search Engine Optimisation Posts You Can Quickly Profit From:
5 New Content Ideas Guaranteed to Get Clicks!
How To Quickly Increase Sales With Direct Response Marketing Campaigns
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