You may not have heaps of cash to spend on advertising and marketing in the beginning of your start-up, however, that does not imply that there aren’t effective methods to get your brand name around.
Prior to the internet, small companies only had a few means to market their products at affordable rates, such as using traditional advertising techniques like printing out flyers or sponsoring regional events. There are many possibilities on the internet however you will need to know where to look.
Here are eight means to promote your business online that won’t cost you a cent:
1. Use the large local listing service
Registering your business with Google Business will allow your business to be on Google searches as well as on Google Maps. All you have to do is fill out the forms, register and follow the verification procedure, which can be done either with a phone call or snail mail. I would have loved to say that you can also list on Yahoo and Bing however these services are not available in South Africa yet. Eish
2. Start a blog
A blog is great when you writing content about your niche. Think of questions that your possible customers would ask. Example: “What is the difference between a fibreglass pool and a concrete pool”. If you show up in the search results then this could build credibility and showcases you and your business as a thought leader in the industry. A content engine is great and with your articles you can always update and modify them as the industry changes. You can also link to other articles which are relevant to the topic which means people will stay on your site. The old saying with Google is Content is king.
A dormant and deserted blog is worth nothing.
We suggest starting a blog with WordPress.com or if you have a WordPress company website then you should ask your website designer to create a blog menu link and give you access to your blog
3. Use Online Classified or fulfillment Services
If you are a retailer you can also use places such as Gumtree to sell your items. You can also register with Takealot as a seller and you should be able to sell your products through their platforms. This will require some time and effort as you need to select the products and provide as much detail as possible. Here is the link.
4. Social Media Websites and apps.
A social network isn’t simply a tool to obtain exposure, it has now become a needed time investment for every single business to make. You can incorporate ads and offers on your Facebook page as well as creating opportunities to connect with potential customers on Twitter. You can also network with companies and individuals via Linked-in with common interests. Instagram is great for showcasing products. We will write more articles about each channel in the near future.
5. Put up multimedia on YouTube, Instgram
YouTube provides a cost-free method to showcase your marketing videos. So if you have any videos related to your industry or niche be sure to collect them and upload to your own YouTube Channel. If you are a supplier of a specific branded product, ask and get permission from the supplier if you can load their videos on your own Youtube Channel. The best option is to download them and upload to your own YouTube Channel.
6. SEO your companies web site.
Search engine optimization cannot be undervalued in the world of continuous Googling. Get a publication or head over to an online how-to-guide on SEO and also make certain your website is primed for efficiency for search engines. We will write a DIY SEO guide in the near future.
7. Press releases
Each time your business does something relevant, don’t wait to shoot off a news release– perhaps people will notice it. They’re a powerful media device to utilize to assist generate promotion, as well as having totally free circulation of them is a bonus offer. There are loads of sites available that you can utilize for your news releases. We will post a link to these listings shortly.
8. Sign up with an online community and also contribute
Every particular niche has areas online that you can obtain involved in. You can join Facebook Groups and various other mediums to discuss your trade. If you decide to sign up and end up just posting links and promotions you could end up frustrating community users. Rather focus on contributing to the community by answering questions and giving sound feedback, advice and tips. Actively add and also develop a connection with the community, while maintaining your service out of it. Passively advertise your service by placing a link in your signatures or stating it only when the context is ideal. A good place to start is Quora and Reddit. Be careful and spend some time researching the communities. We will also write articles about Reddit and Quora.
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