Dear Couch,
Help! I’m broke, However, I need to create a buzz about my business to generate new leads. I can’t afford a social media expert or an advertising budget right now. What do I do?
Sincerely,
Broke without a Buzz
Dear Broke without a Buzz,
Would you believe me if I told you that there were many ways to create a buzz around your business – and for free?
When you are new to running a business, or if like right now, are in money conservation mode, you can still make a big impact without spending over the odds.
Here are three actionable marketing tips covering free PR, free networking and free social media.
How to find exciting PR opportunities for your business for nothing
Do you use Twitter? For this tip you don’t even need a big audience, or even to be signed up for the platform. Simply go to Twitter and check the #journorequest and #prrequest hashtags.
If you do this first thing in the morning you will find journalists with fresh opportunities for anyone who fits the bill. If, for example, a journalist wants to get a quote from a freelancer about something that you specialise or know a lot about, get in touch. You could find yourself supplying an article or expert commentary for a daily paper and getting huge PR for free.
How to network for free and find great contacts
Because of the localised and national lockdowns that have been happening in the UK all year, many of the best business organisations in the country are currently running events for business owners for free.
Never has it been so easy to find new clients or people who could easily become huge supporters of you and your business, right from your laptop. Small Business Saturday is a helpful name if you are a small business, do visit their website https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/ to see what is happening locally. Another name I must mention is Enterprise Nation. They run events for startups and entrepreneurs on a regular basis. Their site is https://www.enterprisenation.com/
How to maximise your social media accounts
It is free to set up a social media account on any platform. But did you know how important it is to create an attractive profile? Make sure that you use a striking, correctly sized bio image for each platform. Get the best account name you can. Don’t choose New_Business.99 when NewBusiness is free. Use the same-named account on each platform for ease and brand continuity. Include a link to your website if you have one. And here is the most important tip in my estimations, populate your account with content that is perfect for your ideal customer. People will follow what looks good and interests them.
This session on The Couch was provided by Shona Chambers, a UK-based freelance Marketing Consultant that works with small business owners and corporates. Check out her recently launched book, 100 Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners.