4 Ways To Have Big Marketing Results on a Small Budget| Grass Roots Marketing

Here a four things you can do that take a small marketing investment, but brings big results.

1. Don't Be Afraid To Ask

No one will say yes, if you don't ask.  Go to your top clients and ask them for a testimonial. When a client speaks highly of you, it means so much more than you speaking highly of yourself.  Online sources are important such as  Google, Yelp, App Store, Trip Advisor, etc..  You can also use testimonials in RFP responses  and in your marketing materials.  Make sure to inform your client where the testimonial will be used, always thank them.

2. Reward For Help

Sometimes all it takes is a simple 'thank you' and someone will be willing to write a testimonial or refer a friend. For others it may take some nudging. Rewards for help can range from a personal phone call, to entering a person's name into a contest , to paying out a finder's fee.  The key is to make sure the reward fits the effort.

Several years ago there was an orthodontist outside of Denver that gave an ipod to every client who referred a new patient to him for orthodontic services. The cost of the ipod was a small fraction of the cost of the service, but a great reward for a tween or teen referring a friend.  Determining what your referring clients' value is also key to encouraging a referral.

You don't always need to go big, sometimes a simple shout out on social media can be all the reward your customers need.  Knowing your customer base and what they value will help you determine the appropriate invest required for helping you spread the word.

3. Provide the Tools To Empower

If you want to empower a campaign, you need to tell people what they need to do.  Bernie Sanders did not just say, "Tell your friend's I am entering the presidential race and vote for me".   He is encouraging supporters to start a hub, sending them the materials, providing them the message, and telling them out to organize.

With the ALS Ice Bucket challenge the concept was easy to duplicate, the rules of sharing were easy to understand and a key fact and it was a viral campaign.

4. Go Social

Not every business is going to go viral like the Ice Bucket Challenge, and for the last year many marketers have tried to duplicate the ALS Foundation's great success.  A good campaign, does not need to be that big, it could just be a matter of getting out that you have a new product, location or are in business.

Tweet, share, post often and consistently while growing your base.  On social media, be clear, on message, and speak to your audience.  It's ok to add a little fun as long as it is appropriate to your audience.  Ask your base to share your message through retweets, shares, and likes.  Do the same for others and you will be amazed by how fast your base will grow.

Need help.  Marketing Eye is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs who do not have the budget for a large in-house marketing department, but they need one.  Learn more by visiting our site at: marketingeyedallas.com.