Marketing is the driving force that keeps all businesses afloat. Global corporations spend millions on marketing, despite their vast customer bases. Small businesses don’t have as much money, but they still need to engage in marketing if they hope to grow. 

Here are four easy and affordable marketing tips for small businesses: 

1. Be Generous With Your Business Cards

As a business owner, most of the people you meet are usually relevant to your business’s interests. Many of these people can become loyal customers, and you should show them that you are available to meet their needs. Giving them your business cards will create this impression – and they may remember it the next time they need your products or services. 

Business cards are like small printed banners that contain basic information about what your business does. They are also cheap, so carry enough for everyone who needs to know about your business. 

2. Set Up Shop Online 

There are far more opportunities online than you would find from the people walking through your store’s doors. For example, the e-commerce market is currently valued at more than $9 trillion. It is also expected to grow exponentially over the near future, as more people are opting to shop online from their homes’ comfort. 

There are more benefits of selling your merchandise online – besides the numerous sales opportunities. For starters, online platforms are cheaper to operate than brick-and-mortar stores. They also run 24/7, and you can get worldwide coverage if you want. E-commerce stores are also versatile, and you can scale up and diversify your portfolio incredibly fast. 

As such, consider setting up shop online – all of your competitors are doing it. Set up an e-commerce website and have supporting platforms, such as a blog and social media pages. 

3. Engage in Digital Marketing 

Virtually everyone across the world has access to mainstream digital platforms, which makes the digital world the new frontier for marketing. To this end, some businesses do all of their marketing online. 

Online marketing has many benefits. Its greatest benefit is that it will give you as much coverage as you need, making it possible to reach billions of people simultaneously. You can also design your marketing campaigns however you wish, thanks to the platform’s versatility. Online marketing can also work on a shoe-string budget – convenient for small businesses. 

As such, engage in robust digital marketing. Adopt a high-impact strategy, whereby every dollar counts. Start with your online platforms, including by employing SEO in your website’s design. 

4. Make Your Brand Personable 

One of the biggest advantages of small businesses is that ordinary people can relate well with them. They are not viewed with suspicion like global conglomerates. They can be trusted – but only if they have a trustworthy brand. As such, make your brand personable and give it attributes that are relatable to your target audiences. 

Final Thoughts 

Every small business has the potential to be a global leader in its industry. However, your small business needs a smart and efficient marketing approach to become a renowned brand. These tips are easy and cheap places to start.