...You'd have an unlimited marketing budget, every dollar invested in marketing would yield a predictable ROI of 300% or more, and shortly, word of mouth would do it all for you as you become a viral sensation. Unfortunately, that's not the world in which most small businesses live, and probably not your world, either. However, that doesn't mean you can't get the word out. Here's 5 simply ways to advertise your business on a budget and get more customers.
Sometimes the oldest ways are the best.
Advertising is meant to simply call attention to the fact that you have a business that meets a need.
Most people who see this advertising don't need what you're offering, but some might, and others will remember that you offer such products later down the line.
A-Frame signs will catch the eye of walkers and passers-by, but a wearable "sandwich board" sign (or even a simple whiteboard held aloft) catches much more attention! That's why more and more companies are employing minimum wage workers (or free family members) to go out and draw attention. Eyes matter. Period!
Many people are actually charmed by such a "retro" advertising style - especially if the sign wearer or holder has a good sense of humor. Take it up a notch with a good sense of humor and vocalization! Let them know that you're doing business, and why that's a great thing.
Let me share a personal anecdote. In college, I was part of a group that was having a car wash to raise money for a good cause. The problem was our planned-weeks-in-advance event happened to coincide with a rainy day! How do you get customers on a rainy day for a car wash!? I grabbed our sign, stood out in a populated place, and began crooning my best "barker" voice, letting passers-by know that "a car wash in the rain is the latest in luxury," and that they could "impress their friends with the latest craze, the car-wash in the rain." It's funny. It's goofy. It made light of a ridiculous situation.
And it brought a lot of customers! Customers who would otherwise have simply laughed at the fools washing cars. In fact, we made more money that day than the day before!
People love to shop. And people love to feel good. And you can help them do both, by sponsoring a local charity, and having a day, or a weekend, when you'll give x% of every sale, or $x for every widget sold, etc., to that particular charity.
This has a unique bonus of often driving people to your business who want to spend money.
As an extra bonus, often this will get you free publicity - people share through word of mouth, and a well written letter to the local news paper or tv station(s) could get a press release about what you're doing - totally free of charge!
Bonus-bonus: that "good feeling" about your business will linger for a long time.
As stated before, people love to shop. However, more than helping others, many love getting free stuff. So take advantage of that, too. Have a give-a-way contest or a raffle, where every $10 spent earns, say, one entry into the contest.
This may seem like a "no-brainer" to some, but none of these are mutually exclusive of the others, and often times work well in tandem.
A "human sign" who can shout like the best carnival barkers (without being annoying) will work amazingly better than either one on its own.
A charity day where you ALSO give away something will draw both crowds, (and allow those who only want a freebie to feel good about their purchases nonetheless!).
