If you’re a startup, then you probably don’t have a lot of capital to invest in marketing. Even so, you need to get your name out there so you can build up your business and your brand. How can you do that without money? It’s a catch-22, or so it seems. While it may seem like there’s no happy medium, I’m here today to show you that it doesn’t take a huge budget to put together an effective marketing strategy.
Today we’ll look at 7 marketing techniques that won’t cost you anything but time. Get ready to put your marketing savvy to work, you’ll want to implement these techniques today.
7 Marketing Strategies That Don’t Break the Bank
Realistically, these aren’t free options. You’re going to have to spend time and possibly payroll getting them done, but you won’t be setting aside what little startup capital you have for marketing.
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Get Links From Service Providers and Mentions
Straight from the mouth of google themselves, we’ve heard that buying links is a bad idea. Instead, backlinks should be built, and they either take your time, or someone else’s time to build. Start by taking a look at at some of the service providers you use. Reach out to some of these partners and simply ask them to link to your site.
That will net you some high-quality backlinks. Another method is to look for mentions of your company in online publications or websites. If you see your brand mentioned, but there’s no link to your site, simply email the editor for the website and ask them to add it in. These little efforts will help build your backlink profile.
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Organize a Webinar
While webinars can be time consuming to host, they provide you with an opportunity to spread your brand to a wider audience. Start by brainstorming a topic, then spread the word on social media. The more interesting the topic is, the better results you’ll get when you host it.
If you want to see a great example of consistent webinars, check out the ones over at Kissmetrics.
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Cross-Promote With Other Businesses
The old “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” adage applies here. Reach out to another business and offer to promote their services in exchange for you promoting theirs. It’s really easy, and everyone wins. Let’s say you offer SEO consulting services, and they offer blog design services. You promote their service to your clients and they do the same for you.
All you need to make this happen is a signed contract so everyone’s on the same page, and a quick conversation with the other business to make it happen.
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Become a Blog Commenter
Working this into your daily routine is easy to do, and it pays off in the long run. Do some research in your niche and look for the top 5 to 10 blogs in your sphere. Read these blogs on a consistent a basis and always comment with feedback and an interjection of your own to add to the discussion.
This helps you network and build connections, but it also establishes a presence for your brand. People will see your comments and eventually, they will click through to your site to see what you’re all about.
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Start Tweeting Like it’s Going out of Style
Twitter is a mountain of potential for marketing. The fast and instant exposure of your tweets offers you the chance to reach potential leads fast. Start by putting a link to your site on your Twitter page’s bio, then start promoting posts from your blog to drive traffic back to your site.
Since you only have 140 characters to work with, make them count. Pull a good quote from your post, post an irresistible question, use an eye-catching image, there’s plenty of options. Be sure to follow other influencers in your niche and follow people back to share the love.
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Gather Emails
Beyond your social media marketing, you should never forsake the power of an email list. When someone gives you their email, they are showing an interest in your brand. You can send them any marketing you like and there’s a very good chance they’ll read it. Those odds can’t be found anywhere else.
All you need to do is put together an email marketing plan, and then start gathering people’s contact information with a tool like the Hello Bar.
While you should be updating your own business blog constantly, you should also look for opportunities to post on other blogs via guest posting. Writing a guest post guarantees that you will have the attention of that blog’s entire audience. It will also provide you another backlink to your site.
Check out some of the blogs in your niche and look for guest posting guidelines on their site. Reach out with some pitches for post ideas and then make some magic happen!
Final Thoughts
Marketing can be an expensive endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. You can use these tactics to build your brand and your business without breaking the bank. What strategies do you use? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
