At Raine Digital, we’re passionate about helping small businesses and brands thrive.  This means we work with a lot of startups and brands who don’t have massive marketing budgets in the beginning.  That being said, we’ve put together a list of 10 marketing ideas for small budgets to help you think outside the box and get your brand out there!

1. Publish Valuable Content
   While this marketing tip should be a given, it almost always bears repeating, as it’s such an important element of your overall marketing strategy.  Even if you don’t consider yourself a great writer, it shouldn’t be too hard to get someone on your team to work on some articles for your blog (or you can always outsource that to us here at Raine Digital!) There are so many creative ways to share content you create, and repurpose it for digital marketing.  Don’t be afraid to get creative. Just make sure you always come back around to asking yourself, “Does this add value to my reader or viewer?”. If the answer is no, don’t publish it.
2. Create More Videos
   Video content is really valuable!  From youtube, Vimeo, and the newly launched IGTV, the importance of video will only continue to increase in the future. We know that video can cost big bucks to hire a professional videographer. While there’s most definitely a need for that level of professionalism for specific types of marketing, not all video content requires that.  The good news is, there are so many tools out there that will allow you to create a quality social media style video. There are even inexpensive tripod options and microphones available for smartphones that will help you up your game without breaking the bank!
3. Get Ad Credits
   When you’re starting out or have a smaller budget, thousands of dollars for a paid ad campaign may not be an option.  The good news is, there are usually discount offers available for first-timers when it comes to Facebook and Google Ads.  Many times your web host may offer a voucher for some free advertising dollars to get you started.
4. Get Active With Social Networking
   Social networks are called “networks for a reason”.  While organic reach is becoming more and more challenging for businesses on some platforms, staying engaged with other users is a surefire way to reach them.  When you like and comment on the content your followers publish on social media, it helps build a relationship, and isn’t that what good business is all about?
5. Create Infographics
   Infographics are visual eye-candy in the world of digital marketing.  They’re comprised of imagery that shares valuable data in a visually appealing way.  This type of content is easy for readers to digest, and are a type of content your followers are likely to share if it contains information they deem relevant.  Whether you design it yourself through DIY tools or hire a designer, this can definitely be a low cost marketing method that makes a big impact with a small cost.
6. Repurpose Old Content
   If you’re running on a tight marketing budget, you may not have room to hire a content writer or designer to create something new.  If you’re in a tight spot, instead of trying to create something new, evaluate some of your older content that already exists and breathe new life into it with updates or new statistics.
7. Get on Linkedin
   Linkedin is a professional social media network that often gets overlooked or under-utilized. Because it’s more of a professional platform, there are so many groups and companies out there sharing highly valuable content.  When you’re lacking inspiration or looking for shareable content to give your followers, browse Linkedin for some inspiration to get you motivated and add some curated content to your marketing strategy.
8. Develop a Referral or Affiliate Program
   When the marketing budget is tight, you might consider offering your existing customers/clients some sort of reward for referring new customers.  Word of mouth is still one of the most powerful methods of marketing, and incentivizing it can be a win-win all around. Once you have your system in place, sending an email blast to your current customers is an inexpensive way to get the word out on the program and boost sales.
9. Get Awesome Business Cards
   For local businesses, print marketing is still incredibly relevant.  Raine Digital branched out into print services last year, and we can’t believe the feedback we get from clients who order some of our luxury business cards.  When you hand a prospect a unique, high-quality business card, it makes a memorable impression, making them more likely to reach out to you when the time comes for them to make a purchase.  Bonus: Mention this post and we’ll waive our design fee AND give you 15% off your first order of premium business cards from Raine Digital.
10. Put a Car Magnet or Window Decal on Your Car
    Unless you live in a big city where you primarily utilize public transportation – you’re driving somewhere, and you’re probably doing it every day. While mass marketing like billboards and radio ads can be incredibly costly, you can tap into a fraction of your local market’s attention just by branding your car.  Bonus: Mention this post and we’ll waive our design fee AND give you 15% off your first order of a car magnet(s) for your business.