How to market your business on a budget
We’re on a mission to help founders develop digital skills so that their businesses can thrive! With the help of our partners at BT, we’ve interviewed real-life business owners and mentors so that you can learn from people who’ve been in your shoes and can show you the way forward.
In this blog, Ian de Cordova is showing exactly how to market your business on a budget. We know when you’re a founder, you don’t always have a big marketing budget. But trust us, it’s possible to get your business out there without breaking the bank!
You can watch the full video interview here.
What stops founders from getting their business out there?
We’ve helped thousands of founders to market their businesses, and the one commonality? The overwhelm.
In today’s digital landscape, there are so many different ways to market your business that it can be difficult knowing where to start!
Want to know our secret? The key thing is to just get started.
Cut through the noise of the online world and get focused on these three simple, cost-effective ways to master how to market your business on a budget.
Your budget marketing blueprint
1. Set up a Google Business Profile
Whether you’re running an online business or have a bricks-and-mortar store, every business should have a Google Business Profile.
A Google Business Profile is free to create and helps you build your presence online for your customers.
With your profile, you can:
- Give an overview of your business
- Link directly to your website
- Share opening hours and business location
- Showcase Google reviews
Why it’s important:
Customers are looking for information faster and faster. Buyers no longer want to check your full website to find out what you do, or work out if you’re a trustworthy business.
Having a Google Business Profile allows you to communicate quickly with potential customers who you are, what you do, and why they should buy from you. And as this tool is completely free to use, it’s a no-brainer for any business or charity to have!
Does it actually work?
Yes! Ian helped one of our mentees set up their Google Business Profile. Through the profile, they were able to tap into local SEO and start reaching more local customers. After a few months, they were able to stop all paid advertising as the organic reach of their profile was bringing in more traffic to their website than the ads!
➡️ Take Action
- Watch this bonus resource: Harnessing Google Business Profile to Bring More People to Your Website
2. Create a website
If you had a bricks-and-mortar store, you’d have a lovely storefront drawing customers in and giving them somewhere to find and buy from you.
The online world is exactly the same, but your website is your storefront. And the best part is, your website operates 24/7, so your storefront never closes!
It’s now easier than ever to set up a website. There are hundreds of website hosting tools out there, and emerging AI tools and platforms which can help you to create a website in seconds.
💡 Once you’ve created your website, don’t forget to link it to your Google Business Profile
Does it actually work? Yes! Ian’s been mentoring Gary for over two years, and in that time, they’ve developed Gary’s website together. With Ian’s support, Gary’s sales went from just a couple a month to regularly hitting 300 sales in a month. This is all thanks to Gary’s website that allows his customers to buy his products quickly and easily.
➡️ Take Action
- Read our blog on how to create a website using AI
- Read our blog on how to avoid 12 common website mistakes
3. Nail your social media content
Hear us out, we know that social media platforms are overflowing with content. But with the right strategy and some consistency, you can leverage social content to reach your audience, totally free of charge.
Your social strategy
- Pick your platforms – the biggest mistake founders make is trying to be everywhere all at once. Pick a handful of key platforms, and focus on sharing quality content there.
- Decide what to post – most people are on social media to either be entertained or educated. With your account, you can use your content to educate customers about you, your business, and the products/services that they can buy from you
- Decide how often to post – this doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Pick a frequency that works for you, whether that’s once a month, week or day and stick to it. Consistency trumps volume every time.
💡 Tip: link your social media platforms to your website. It helps build trust and show your potential customers that you’re a living, breathing business!
➡️ Take Action
- Read our blog on how to create content that converts
Bonus: When you’re ready to spend money
If you’ve nailed the first three steps and you want to take your business to the next level, you can try low-cost paid ads.
Search engines like Google and Bing offer paid search adverts that you can start from around £5 a day. Even with a low budget, you’re able to more accurately target your customers and start to get seen by your ideal clients.
The same rules apply to paid advertising as organic – you need to ensure your ads are quality, and that they’re linking back to a valuable and optimised website. Always think about the overall customer journey and ensure that every time a customer interacts with you, whether it’s organic or paid, that they’re having the best experience possible.
➡️ Take Action
- Watch this bonus resource: Getting Started with Google Ads
- Read our blog on how to create your first Google Ads campaign
So there you have it! Getting your business out there doesn’t have to cost a fortune. With these simple steps, you’ll be able to market your business on a budget in no time at all.
Need support with anything that we’ve covered in this blog? Join our community and start accessing free mentoring to continue learning with us!
Meet the mentor
Ian de Cordova is passionate about helping small businesses thrive. With experience in the corporate sector and a business owner himself, he brings years of knowledge and learning to all the mentoring sessions he delivers.
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