Meeting payroll and covering overhead are the first orders of business through these tough economic times. However, too many entrepreneurs and small businesses look to their marketing budgets as a way to cut costs–a big no-no when clients and customers may be that much harder to come by. Here are five simple ways to save money while still reaching as many clients and customers as possible.
1. Have a cost-conscious focus
The less expensive a product or service, the better. If that’s your business, have your marketing materials reflect that cost-conscious focus.
2. Ramp up social networking
Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are free and reach millions of prospective customers at one time. They also provide potential customers with a subjective feel for who you are and why they should want to connect with you.
3. Embrace a good cause
Embracing a good cause can present a viable opportunity for low-cost marketing. Best of all, approaches to cause-driven marketing are endless!
4. Offer a guarantee
With few exceptions, every business stands behind its product or service in some capacity. But few also leverage that form of assurance as the powerful marketing tool that it can be: a rock-solid declaration of the unshakable faith you have in what you provide, if nothing else.
5. Interact with contests
Contests offer visibility, customer interaction and the lure of victory. Utilize social networks by hosting a contest through Facebook!
Read the entire article written by Jeff Wuorio here: http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/july/202256.html
