Free Marketing Ideas for Small Businesses You can implement these ideas TODAY

As a small business owner, you are probably consumed with thoughts of how to increase your revenue this holiday season. Unlike huge corporations, you likely do not have a huge advertising budget. Thanks to the digital age, there are a variety of low or no-budget methods to increase the visibility of your business. A  small amount of time may be your only investment to implement the following ideas:

Your website:

More than half (67%) of consumers search online to find local businesses, which means a well-designed, user-friendly website is crucial real estate. Simplify your home page by decluttering it. Make it clear and easy to navigate. Don’t confuse or overwhelm customers. Highlight your key messages and why a person should buy from you. Your homepage should feature only one or two calls-to-action, such as “download this” or “Work with me.” Move to another page any other information that detracts from what they need to know to make those choices. 

Use More Images

Break up some of that text on your website with images or infographics. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words. Our attention span these days is short and people want to get to the point quickly. Often images or infographics will emphasize your services and prompt people to continue scrolling through. Canva is a platform with a free option and easy-to-understand templates and instructions on developing infographics, or find someone in your network with design skills and give them some business. 

Show and Tell

Show potential customers how to do something. Write or make a short video or a one page guide of something that is directly related to what you are selling, perhaps an item or service that you want to promote for the holidays. Make the guide clear and easy to understand. Answer the common questions on this issue/product, then direct them on how to contact you for more information, as well as how to purchase. This is a way to empower people with new knowledge that will instill their trust in you and loyalty to your brand. 

Social Media

Yes, you know you should be posting, but you may have trouble coming up with content. How about posting a link to the aforementioned how-to video or written guide? That’s a great way to invite conversation. Make a post asking people to comment on the guide and your chance to interact with them. Don’t stop at “liking” their comments. Engage with them by offering suggestions or additional information about your products/services. Ask you social media followers what they want to know about and create another video or written guide. 

Take the “how to” method a step further by going live on social media with a “how to” either on the same product/service or on something else you want to promote. 

Answer Questions on Forums

Take some time online to scroll through forums such as Quora, Reddit and AskMetaFilter.   Thousands of people are asking questions about anything and everything you can imagine and its quite likely you will find people who have questions about subjects you are knowledgeable on. Be the one to give the answers they are looking for. Within your answer, direct people to your website. If you make it a practice to spend just 15 minutes per day on each site answering questions, you are likely to get an increase in your online traffic. Deliver useful, honest advice which will not only impress the person asking the question, but other people will notice and perhaps visit your website and/or contact you. Remember, for every one person asking a question, there are thousands of other people who also want to know the answers.

Friends and Family

Your close friends and family are probably familiar with what you do, because you are likely always discussing your business with them! Make the people you love and are closest to, your business ambassadors. Give them a stack of your business cards and/or brochures. Explain to them clearly how you help people. They don’t need to do any selling, just 

pass along your materials to anyone they encounter that may mention needing a service similar to what you provide. Often, our loved ones may not be our customers but are happy to help spread the word. 

Plan to do at least one of these tasks every day or every other day and you will get some increased traffic, and hopefully increased revenue during this holiday season.

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