Selling more stuff than you have been is undoubtedly one of the best ways to increase your bottom line and start seeing more money coming in, but it’s not exactly easy, is it? Well, yes and no. The methods you can use to increase sales are actually quite simple, but of course, you have to be willing to work hard and put the effort in to make it happen. Up for the challenge? Here are four simple strategies to start selling more stuff right now.
Nobody wants to see yet another generic website flogging the same old products without a trace of personality, right? You know you can do better than that! So, to stand out, let your brand’s quirks shine through. Whether you’re a hoodie shop run by cat lovers or a soap boutique obsessed with everything lemon-scented, lean into your weird. Customers love a good story, and that story begins the moment they land on your page or spot your sign in the real world. When your name, vibe, and visuals all say, “We’re different, and we’re proud of it,” you’ll hook people before they’ve even sampled your goods.
2. Go Beyond Boring Visuals
If you think a few grainy photos taken in your cluttered garage will cut it, and make your customers want to spend any money at all, then sorry but you need to think again. High-quality images, eye-catching graphics, and even professional promotional videos can transform your brand into a full-blown experience. Imagine your potential buyers actually hearing your enthusiasm, seeing your product in action, and getting excited to whip out their wallet. That’s the beauty of turning ho-hum content into compelling mini-films—or at least polished clips—that create an emotional connection. When your brand feels legit, people are more likely to trust you, and trust is the golden ticket to more sales.
3. Stir Up a Buzz (Without Getting Buzzed)
Small businesses often rely too heavily on random discounts, splashing “SALE!” everywhere like it’s confetti. Sales can help, sure, but if that’s your only trick, customers will just wait around for the next price drop. Instead, get people talking about you for other reasons. Maybe you donate a portion of proceeds to a local animal shelter or host quirky livestream events where you answer customer questions while juggling water balloons. It’s the unexpected touches, the inside jokes, and the human moments that keep your brand top-of-mind.
4. Cultivate a Community
Chasing one-off sales can feel like herding cats. Instead, focus on gathering a loyal following. Interact with your customers on social media—thank them by name, ask for feedback, and actually listen to what they say. People love feeling like they’re part of something bigger, and when they do, they’ll happily spread the word to friends, family, or even random strangers who seem interested. A thriving community around your brand means free PR, genuine reviews, and a warm-and-fuzzy feeling that sets you apart from the faceless corporations of the world.
When you are a small business owner, you are always looking for ways to save that little bit more. Great marketing is a requirement, but you can’t have the bottomless wallet that franchises have. But you don’t. There are more cost-efficient resources available that can be just as effective as the expensive methods. Let me speak about a few that are not as expensive but will pay serious dividends.
With the nonstop beats of digital life, just appearing is no longer an option—but survival. But writing, publishing, engaging on a daily basis? That is a full-time job in itself. Introducing social media scheduler software—the great replacement that keeps you alive as you do what is really important.
Tools such as Buffer, Later, and SocialBee are your backstage crew, rolling out posts smoothly regardless of how far you are with a growing business. Better still, a great many have free or budget plans, which means you can have a regular posting schedule on a non-splurging budget.
Email Marketing
Email marketing is not as trendy as a trending hashtag on a trending-for-a-minute reel, maybe, but here is a little secret I can let you in on: it is a smart business’s secret weapon. Strategically wielded, an email is not another message amidst a crowded inbox but a direct route into a listener’s attention, a way to create loyalty, initiate conversations, and sell with no algorithmic wars involved.
And the great thing is that you don’t have to have a big budget in order to get started. Tools like Mailchimp, ConvertKit, and Brevo allow you to create a following at no cost at all, with costs scaling as you grow. That means you can have 100, 500, or 1,000 subscribers on a free basis.
Low-Cost or Complimentary Graphic Design Tools
You do not necessarily have to hire a high-end designer to create nice-looking images. Canva and Adobe Express are just two examples of quick ways that you can produce nice-looking images with no design experience.
With social media posts, slides, flyers, and pro-style business card templates, you can have a pro-looking brand at a fraction of the cost. The free editions are that effective, and shelling out a bit more a month on the pro editions will cost you no more than a few coffees.
Website Builders with In-Built SEO Tools
A quality web presence is not negotiable, though paying a developer can be expensive. Website platforms Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress allow you to have a professional website with no code necessary.
On top of that, these sites have SEO functionality that helps you get Google-discoverable without needing a specialist. A good website builder fixes that easily with simple SEO functionality available in keyword optimization, smartphone compatibility, and website speed.
Print Marketing
With all the emphasis on digital, it is easy to forget that printed matter can be just as effective. Brochures, postcards, and flyers can leave a lasting impression, especially when used strategically at in-person events or in retail spaces.
One of the least expensive and simplest promotional printing devices is business card printing. A well-laid-out card is not merely a device for contact information but a tangible reminder of you. Handing out a card at a networking event, a conference, or a social encounter leaves a person with something in their possession, making it more likely that you will be remembered.
The Power of Word-of-Mouth Marketing
Word-of-mouth is probably both the lowest cost and most effective form of marketing. Customers are your largest promoters, and a satisfied client is worth more than a paid endorsement. Elicit comments, testimonials, and social media posts. A simple discount-based or reward-based client referral is all you have to do in order to attract new clients.
Individuals have more faith in a suggestion from a friend or a loved one than in any form of ad. Getting customers to speak out about their experiences, be it in terms of web-based reviews, video interviews, or social media shout-outs, can have a ripple effect that draws in more customers. Giving out exclusive referral rewards in terms of a discount rate, in-store credits, or free goods can promote repeat sales alongside new clients. Direct engagement with customers in terms of appreciation from you about a review, as well as displaying a client’s endorsement on your website and social networking pages, gives a human touch that reinforces that client’s faith in you. The more natural and genuine, the more effective.
Leveraging Local Community Events
Another great method of small business marketing on a budget is via engaging in local activities. Participating in, sponsoring, or hosting local fairs, networking sessions, or pop-up shops exposes you to potential customers. Having a small booth, distributing free samples, or giving event-only deals can create genuine engagement with minimal expenditure.
Taking Advantage of Free PR Opportunities
You don’t necessarily have a big PR budget to secure media coverage. Local newspapers, blogs, and trade magazines are looking for newsworthy material. In case you have a new product launch, a wonderful event, or a remarkable accomplishment, craft a press release or pitch a story to a targeted journalist. Word of mouth can do wonders regarding the level of awareness about a brand.
Making it Real and Personal
At the end of the day, small businesses have something that big brands lack: human connections. Customers love shopping from brands that are human. Speak with customers in a human tone, respond to messages, and give a glimpse into backstage moments. Authenticity is paramount, and that breeds loyal customers that keep on returning.
Maximizing User-Generated Content
Getting customers to produce content about your brand is likely the lowest-cost form of marketing. A social media snapshot with you in it, a glowing endorsement, and a video endorsement are all examples. User-generated content is social proof. It says to new customers that authentic users have confidence in and love your brand. A small contest or just a request that customers tag you in a post can really boost visibility at little cost.
Stay Connected Using SMS Marketing
SMS is an extremely underrated, highly effective promotional strategy for small business marketing. The open rate on SMS campaigns is much higher than that on email, which makes it a direct means of communicating with your customers. Whether you are sending out deals, reminder appointments, or exclusive offers, cost-efficient plans on SMS market solutions such as SimpleTexting and EZ Texting are available specifically for small businesses.
Offering loyalty schemes
The loyalty of your customers is what will keep bringing in new customers, although you do not have to spend thousands on software. A repeat visit with a good punch card or a points-based plan with a spreadsheet will do just as much. Customers enjoy earning a reward from loyalty, as a considerate plan can keep them engaged with spending as little as they possibly can.
Taking Advantage of Video Content
Video is likely the best promotional activity, though it does not have to cost you an arm and a leg. The quality of phone cameras is high, which puts small businesses in a position to create great materials at a low cost. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts allow companies to reach a large audience with fun clips. Some tips on a straightforward process, some backstage moments, or client comments can do very well in making a brand. There are free editors in apps like CapCut and iMovie that can be used so that you do not have to spend any money at all.
The pandemic has hit businesses hard all over the world since coronavirus reared its ugly head, and millions of businesses have been forced to close. Subsequently, millions more jobs have been lost because of this, causing financial despair all over the world. However, some businesses have managed to make it this far, and if you’re one of the lucky, then you’ll be looking for effective ways to ensure that your business survives this pandemic. Here are some tried and tested tips on how to effectively market your business during the pandemic.
Understand how to effectively reach your target audience
We all know that there’s a diverse range of people using social media in this day and age, but not everyone does, and it’s important to remember that. If your target audience is the elderly, for example, you may struggle to hit your demographic through social media as much as you’d like. Instead, opt for mediums of marketing such as adverts in magazines, newspapers and television adverts so that you can reach your target more effectively. Conduct research on your target audience so that you can choose the most effective medium of reaching them.
Save time with a marketing agency
Effective marketing takes a lot of time and effort, and if you’re busy with other operations in your business, you simply might not have the time to do it. However, you can use a digital marketing agency such as Herdl for many of your marketing needs such as SEO, website design, hosting, and email marketing. After all, if you’re going to do something right, it’s best left to the professionals! While hiring a marketing agency might be an investment, it’s one you should seriously consider to help improve your business’ visibility.
Take to social media…
Social media is the easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective method of reaching many people in one go. Create stunning graphics and videos that show what your business has to offer, and post them on all of your social media platforms on a regular basis. You should also include a link back to your website so that it’s easy for potential customers to head straight to the product they’re after. You should also do some hashtag research to ensure you’re going to hit the right people with your content. Remember when posting anything on social media to stick to your brand image so that your business becomes recognisable through colour schemes, fonts, imagery and your logo. You’ll thank yourself in the future!
…and through that use influencers to raise brand awareness
Finally, influencers are more powerful than you think, and could be extremely valuable to your business. Reach out to influencers in your industry to see if they’d be willing to review your products or services in return for a review on their social media platforms. Their followers will naturally click through and buy your products! You may have to pay an influencer too, depending on their following, but it’s an investment that will eventually pay for itself through the sales you make.
We live in a world where everything is done online. It’s great for businesses big and small and it’s never been easier to get word out and market your business. If you have a good social media presence then chances are your business is already doing well. But are you missing out on potentially bringing in new customers. Here are some more simple ways to get word out and reach a whole new clientele.
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels
Socialise
We all love to socialise and thanks to social media (I know it’s in the name!) the fun never stops. Whether you ever present on social media or fluttering about at parties, talk about your product. Try and strike up conversations with people who you think may be interested in your product. Be wary of just bombarding people with stats, figures and jargon. It could damage your reputation and turn people the other way. Try and engage them and get them interested in what you’re offering. Leave them wanting to find out more and they’ll do the research themselves.
Throw a launch party
You have a product and you’re a social butterfly. Throwing a launch party and showing people a good time is a sure way to get word out. People will leave feeling good and wanting to know more about your product or services and may even go away and tell their friends…and their friends friends.
Have stationary made
It may seem like an unnecessary cost but it actually doesn’t have to be that expensive. Find a company that will do you a deal on a bulk order perhaps. Creating a mental image to go with your brand is a great way to help people remember it. Order business cards and personalised stationery for any correspondence. Even consider branded pens that you can give to consumers.
Directory
Use local directories, online directories look at companies such as Free Learning Management System (LMS) Directory Listing. They can get your brand name out there and in front of the right people. There are plenty of free and pay for directory services.
Ask for reviews
Don’t be afraid to ask for reviews. With such a saturated market, consumers first port of call when trying to decide between two competitors is to usually look for reviews. The more reviews you have the better and the more likely a consumer will be to choose you. Make sure your service warrants great reviews, one bad review can undo five great ones. But it’s a great way to get people talking about your business.
Wear and use your products in public
You have your stationary use it in public and hand it out where possible but another great way to market your business is to wear it! If your business makes clothing wear it! If not, look at having T-shirts made with your logo on but make sure it’s eye catching. You want people to take note of what you’re wearing so they seek it out. Don’t be remembered for the wrong reasons.
Growth is something every online shop owner worries about. With so many social media marketing strategies out there, it can be difficult to know what tactics are most effective.
To help you along your ecommerce journey, we’re going over seven strategies you can easily implement to grow your online shop.
Post compelling content frequently
If you want to grow your brand on social media, consistently posting great content is non-negotiable. Users react more favorably to businesses they regularly see in their feeds, leading to more engagement and trust.
However, you don’t need to go overboard and start spamming your followers. Simply create a schedule that works for you and commit to it.
Automate word-of-mouth with social reviews
Reviews are this century’s word-of-mouth.
Having product review apps on your shop’s site creates trust and leads to more sales. When your customers are happy, they’ll want to convince others to buy from you too, so let them share the love!
Make it easy to share your products
Add social share buttons to your site, particularly for Pinterest. If a customer likes your item but can’t buy it right away, they can pin it for later.
Even better, someone else might see that pin they’ve saved of your awesome product and click onto your website. Your potential customers are doing some of the marketing for you!
Be active on the right #hashtags
Hashtags can be a little complicated, because there’s different rules for different social channels. Luckily, there are tools available to find ones that align with your brand, aren’t oversaturated, and will yield the best results.
It’s also a great idea to create your own shop-specific hashtag. This encourages your customers to post photos with your products using that tag.
Align your posts with a trending topic
When you post about what people want to read about, both on your social media and on your shop’s blog, you’ll naturally attract potential clients. If you properly utilize SEO in your posts, it’s easier for people to find you.
If you need help in this area, SMR Digital is an organic search agency providing link outreach, SEO, PPC and social media marketing services.
Invest in an infographic
Infographics are a quick and visually-appealing way to help your customers make informed decisions, or educate them about your brand.
There used to be a big hurdle driving traffic from Instagram. Now, for business pages, it couldn’t be easier!
The same way you’d tag any other account, you can now create product tags. These shoppable posts allow users to tap and see prices, then click through to purchase. They fit in seamlessly and don’t come across as spammy.
