It’s no secret that business costs are rising and it has become increasingly difficult to generate profits for many companies. If you run a business and you’re on a mission to widen profit margins, it makes sense to try to maximise your income while reducing expenses. In this guide, we’ll explore some cost-effective ways to draw attention to your business.
Social media
Social media is a hugely influential platform for brands and businesses looking to drum up interest and boost sales. Social apps may have started life as networks for friends and families, but they have evolved into powerful commercial platforms, which offer incredible opportunities for companies to raise brand awareness. There are multiple ways you can attract attention on social media, including advertising products, teaming up with influencers and brand partners, running promotions and promoting targeted content.
When you use social media for business purposes, don’t underestimate the importance and value of engaging with customers and building relationships. Social apps are a brilliant sales tool but their primary benefit is enabling brands to interact with customers and prospective clients and followers. Seize the chance to communicate, encourage engagement and get to know your followers and virtual friends and fans. Almost 90% of customers buy from brands they follow on social media. Posting content enables you to tell people all about the business, its ethos and values and the company culture. Social platforms provide a golden opportunity to showcase the human side of the business and set the brand apart from competitors.
Hosting a competition is an ingenious way to grow your follower count quickly and inexpensively. If you have an Instagram account, for example, giving away a prize is a brilliant way to boost follower numbers and encourage new followers to take an interest in your business. Once you have decided on a prize, advertise the competition and make the instructions very clear. Tell people how they can enter and maximise opportunities to spread the word and get as many people to take part as possible. Good examples include asking people to tag a certain number of friends, follow the account and share the giveaway on stories. Set a deadline and keep people updated. Once you’ve confirmed a winner, post regularly to hold the attention of new followers and start generating hype for the next competition.
Events
Organising and attending events is a fantastic way to get people talking about your business and introduce your brand and the products and services you sell to prospective customers. If you are launching a new product or opening a new store, office or branch, for example, and you’re thinking about hosting a party, a presentation or a gathering, it’s essential to plan in advance, think carefully about the guest list and ensure that everything is in place to make the event run smoothly. Consider who you want to attend, for example, loyal customers, press, bloggers and industry experts and insiders, and stream the event if you have a limited capacity.
If you are looking for ways to create a buzz around your brand and target new audiences without spending a fortune on planning an event, why not look for events you can attend? Trade shows, exhibitions, festivals, fairs and community events are excellent examples. Look for events that are relevant to the business and the target customer. If you have a stall or a pitch, you can sell and advertise products while getting to know people and introducing them to your brand. It’s critical to ensure that your booth or stand turns heads. Consider the design and be original. You can use everything from funky lighting and signage to inflatable globes and spectacular stands, flags and sails to make your stall lure people in. It’s also a fantastic idea to offer free samples or giveaways. People love a freebie. If you’ve got samples of tasty treats or drinks, or promotional items, such as keyrings or pens, passers-by will take an interest. People will always gravitate towards the stalls and tables with queues and crowds.
Local SEO
SEO (search engine optimisation) is a digital marketing method, which helps businesses to attract customers by capitalising on the popularity of search engines. The aim is to get to the top of the list of search results when a web user types a query or keyword that is relevant to your business or the product you sell. Local SEO has become increasingly influential in recent years. Over 50% of searches now have a local focus and more than 80% of smartphone users will either contact or visit a company within 24 hours of performing a local search online.
Drawing up an effective local SEO strategy can help businesses to target new audiences, reach out to customers and create better quality leads, which improves ROI (return on investment). To achieve results, focus on creating high-quality content, which contains targeted local keywords. Use keywords and phrases naturally, provide useful, informative content and vary content types to boost engagement. Video content is very popular and it is shared more than 1,000 times more frequently than images and text combined.
If you’re new to SEO and you have no experience in digital marketing, it’s beneficial to consider seeking expert advice. You could work with a digital marketing agency or hire freelancers to create a strategy and launch campaigns. In most cases, digital marketing companies provide a bundle of services in exchange for a monthly fee but you don’t always have to sign a long-term contract. You may be able to pay as you go and you can discuss options based on your budget.
Many business owners are tightening their belts in a bid to cut costs and boost profit margins. As costs rise, it’s increasingly important to bring money in while keeping a close eye on outgoings. If you’re looking to boost sales and raise brand awareness, it’s wise to look for cost-effective ways to draw attention to your business and attract customers. Take advantage of the incredible opportunities offered by social media platforms, engage with customers and increase follower numbers. Use local SEO to attract attention online and consider organising an event or attending local, regional or national events to expand your reach.
