Every business, regardless of size, struggles to answer one burning question: how do you get your product out there? Many businesses use expensive ad campaigns to put themselves in front of as many eyes as possible.
The conventional wisdom around business promotion says you have to spend money to make money, but is that still the case today? Can you promote your business without breaking the bank?
As a matter of fact, you can. There are plenty of business promotion ideas your business can implement right now that simple, inexpensive, and–most importantly–effective!
Keep reading to learn some of the most effective promotion strategies you can use to boost your business’s profile.
Press Releases
Never underestimate the power of a good press release. Press releases are a tried and true method of getting your message in front of people: you can say exactly what you want to say, and many places will run them for you.
You might think that press releases are only for big companies, but press releases are also good for small business promotion. You can run your press release in local papers, for instance.
Of course, the more people a press release reaches, the better. A good distribution system is key if you’re relying on press releases.
There are plenty of paid options out there, but why eat into your profits when you could choose free press release distribution instead?
Press releases are useful for everything: announcing new promotions, changes in staff, and more. They’re a quick way to grab someone’s attention, and free distribution means lots of people will see it at no cost to you.
Joint Ventures
Sometimes, businesses can accomplish more together than they ever could apart. Embarking on a joint venture with another company is a great way for both parties to boost their profile.
The hardest part about a joint venture is choosing the right company to partner with. You want to find someone who isn’t a direct competitor, but targets the same audience you want to reach.
It’s also important to do your research before partnering up–make sure the other company is reputable and popular, or you’ll damage your own image by associating with them.
The reverse is also true: if you can partner with a high-profile business, it makes you look even better. Trust in your partner company will translate into trust in you.
Discounts and Deals
This is one of the simplest promotion ideas, but there’s no denying it’s effective. People love a good deal, so having the occasional sale or promotional discount is all but guaranteed to bring in business.
Deals are great because you aren’t spending extra money; with the right deals, you won’t be losing out on profit, either.
Studies show that people are far more likely to buy a product if they feel they’re getting a deal. In other words: yes, you’re selling at a lower price, but without that lower price, you might not have made the sale at all.
How you market a sale is just as important as what you’re marketing. Bundles, buy-one-get-one deals, and the like are more effective than non-specific sales or clearances.
If something is on for no apparent reason, people will assume that it’s a bad product. If it’s a part of your Summer Break Blitz, though, people will feel more at ease. Use that psychology to your advantage!
Engage on Social Media
Engaging with your customer base builds trust. Trust, in turn, improves your image, resulting in more business, better reviews, and positive word of mouth.
The easiest way to engage with your customers is through social media. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram–all of these sites allow customers to interact with you.
Social media can be a double-edged sword: frequent engagement and popular posts can do wonders for your business, but if aren’t consistent, you can quickly lose any cache you’ve built up.
It’s also important to make sure that the person controlling your company’s social media is trustworthy and professional. Few things can sink a company as fast as a tone-deaf or mean-spirited tweet going viral.
Despite its possible pitfalls, social media is a strong tool in any business’s arsenal, offering a free way to interface and foster positive experiences with customers.
Website Business Promotion
No matter the size of your business, it needs a website. Websites are incredibly versatile; owning one opens up all kinds of doors for your company.
A website is a convenient place for customers to find information about your business, but it’s so much more than than.
Do you want to point people to a curated list of reviews extolling your company’s virtues? A website can do that. Maybe you’d like to draw people in by writing about your product. Incorporate a blog on your site!
You can also direct people to your site by writing guest posts on other websites, commenting on similar blogs, promoting your site on social media, and more.
While hosting a website isn’t free, it’s well worth the cost considering how much you’ll get out of it.
Community Involvement
One of the best ways to promote your business is to get involved with local programs and events. Make your business into a part of the fabric of your community.
Take part in local festivities! If your town is having a fair or similar event, make sure your business has a booth there. People will see you and associate your company with the fun of the event.
You could also host an event yourself. Teach a class or host something fun! Team up with a local library for some programming! It’s a great way to get your name out there, and people will remember the good time they had.
Give Your Business a Boost
Business promotion is one of the most important aspects of running a business, but it’s also one of the trickiest. Finding a way to maximize efficiency at minimal cost can be stressful, but these strategies can help.
Are you looking for other ways to improve your company? Check out our business blog for more advice like this!
