PLAN15 ideas for marketing on a
shoestring budget
Set aside some “thinking” time so you can
• Plan your day• Plan your month• Plan your year
Idea #1
Idea #2Make your website a workhorse
Be more than pretty - be interactiveMost important info goes at the topWhen you have something cool to share, put it on your website!“Contact Us” should be a form they can submitUse testimonials
Think A.I.D.A.Attention, Interest, Desire, Action 15 ideas for marketing on a
shoestring budget
Idea #3
SEOSearch Engine Optimization
Use a meaningful title – not just “welcome” or “home”
Link important bits of textGet other sites to link to yoursLearn what keywords customers use to
“Google” youPut those words in your text frequently15 ideas for marketing on a
shoestring budget
Idea #4
Some of the best marketing ideas are first written on a cocktail napkin!
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #5
All the world’s a-”twitter”Social networks are great, but how do they fit in with your strategy?Are you going to have someone assigned to update the social networking site?How is the social networking site going to help you reach your objectives?Use good judgment…
Master the basics before you jump on the latest fad
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Social Media is more than a fad
Facebook: 1 billion+ registered; 800 million active usersTwitter: 6 million registered; about 2 million active
usersYouTube:
June 2007: 6 hours of video every minuteJanuary 2009: 15 hours/minuteNovember 2010: 35 hours/minuteMay 2011: 48 hours/minuteJanuary 2012: 60 hours/minute
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #6
Take advantage of the freebies!Word of Mouth
Community Calendars
Area Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Voicemail greetings
Local television and radio shows
Press Releases to local media Social Media including Blogs
Networking15 ideas for marketing on a
shoestring budget
Idea #7
Target (it’s more than just a great store!)
Who needs to know about your product or service?Why should they care?Where are they?How can you reach them directly and cost
effectively?
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #8
Think ROI – it’s more important than just looking at the cost of your marketing
The goal of every organization is survival, and survival depends on your ROI
Revenue – ExpensesExpenses
x 100
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #9
Learn from your mistakes (and yes – there will be mistakes!)
Remember thisone?
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
And more recently this one?
Idea #10
Leverage RelationshipsThe ultimate goal of marketing is to create positive, long-term relationships with patrons, employees (customers, clients, etc).
Every employee is a marketer (whether they know it or not) and should be helping you cultivate those relationships.
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #11
Use E-mail, but use it wiselyFree or very low cost & track-ableCan help strengthen relationships if done wellCan do the opposite if not done wellCheck, double-check, and re-check before you hit “Send”
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Example of an E-mail OOPS!
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #12
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should
Exhibit A:
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #13
Put a CTA on everythingIf your materials are pretty but they don’t encourage someone to take action, what’s the point?Make it easy to find your contact information, website address, or a person to talk to.
What am I supposed to do with this?Make the answer clear to the customer!!
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #14
Be a trackerMeasure what you’re doing to see what’s workingTrack your campaigns to see what’s not workingIf you’re not sure if it works, it probably doesn’t
Tracking is one of the most difficult tasks for a marketer
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Idea #15
Get all your ducks in a row before you launch a campaign!Is everyone who might be answering questions aware that there is a campaign going on?Are they prepared to answer customers’ questions without having to ask someone else?Do you have systems in place to handle additional traffic?
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
Quick RecapPlan – build your marketing
“playbook”
Make your website a workhorse
Search Engine Optimization
Use your Cocktail Napkin Ideas
Use Social Networks wisely
Take advantage of the freebies
Target your $$ to your audience
Focus on ROI
Learn from your mistakes
Leverage Relationships
Utilize e-mail marketing
Just because you can doesn’t mean you should
Include a clear CTA on everything
Be a Tracker
Get all your ducks in a row
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget
What are your ideas?
Alicia Carter270-745-4720
15 ideas for marketing on a shoestring budget