Just because you’re strapped for cash, doesn’t mean you can’t have success advertising your small business. In fact, there are plenty of ideas out there that help you market and advertise your company for very little money. In many cases, there’s a small upfront cost, then the rest is done for free.
If you’re looking for low-cost advertising ideas, then you’ve certainly come to the right place!
Give Out Free Branded Merchandise
Every business should consider creating merchandise as a means of marketing. It’s a simple concept; create merch with your brand name on it, and maybe even contact details, then hand it out for free. The secret is making merchandise that people find useful, and will be seen by loads of people.
Creating a tote bag is a great idea as people use them to carry their shopping/belongings, and they’ll be seen by the public as they walk around. Mugs or stationary are other good ideas too, or you could create clothing to wear yourself. Walk around wearing a hoodie displaying your brand and some business info on the back, and you’re self-promoting as you go about your daily business.
Promote Your Business Using Your Car
This idea is so incredibly simple, and yet so wonderfully effective at the same time. I’m sure there are many of you out there that have heard about wraps for cars and trucks, yes? For those that don’t, this is basically a thing where your car gets wrapped in a material, which completely alters its appearance. Here, the idea is that you wrap your car, so it displays your brand colors, logo, contact information, etc. So, whenever you drive around, you’re essentially advertising your company.
People on the street can see your parked car and note down your number. People in traffic will see you as you drive, and your brand image slowly grows. The best thing is, apart from the cost of the wrap, you don’t have to pay a penny to advertise using your vehicle.
Try Your Hand At Guerrilla Marketing
Guerrilla marketing is this idea where you take your business to the streets. It involves many ideas that revolve around going out in public and making people take notice of you. This could mean you set up a pop-up stand in the middle of a busy city center, and promote your business to the local people. Some creative people have taken to painting street art that advertises their business for free, and so on. The idea is that you don’t have to pay a lot of money, but you bring your business directly into the public eye.
I love these three ideas as they offer something different for small business owners. Unlike paying for online or print adverts, there are no ongoing costs. You just have to pay for one thing, then the rest kind of happens for free. If you run a small business with an even smaller budget, these ideas are perfect for ensuring you still advertise your company without breaking the bank.