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Best Free To Use Digital Marketing Strategies

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Are you looking for ways to market your business where you have the time but not the budget?

You’ve come to the right place. This article has many ways you can utilise your time to market your business. Of course, you’d only want to invest your time in marketing for a side hustle, a startup business or when your primary skill is marketing.

Time is money, and if you are a marketing novice but highly skilled at something that has given rise to a startup, investing in marketers instead of doing the work yourself is the best ROI.

This article first looks at the differences between advertising and marketing and then provides strategies that will take time but are either free or meager cost.

Marketing versus Advertising

Before we cover the best free digital marketing strategies – remembering there really is no such thing as free as time is money, let’s consider how marketing and advertising differ.

Marketing and advertising are related concepts but refer to different aspects of promoting a product, service, or brand. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between marketing and advertising regarding definition, scope, duration, components and goal.

Definition

Starting with the definition, marketing involves bringing a product or service from conception to market.

Marketing takes time, and when it is done well, it is continuously evolving and includes:

  • Market research
  • Product development
  • Pricing strategies
  • Distribution channels
  • Communication and promotion

Advertising, on the other hand, specifically refers to the communication and promotion aspect of marketing. It involves creating and delivering messages through television, radio, print, and online platforms like PPC, social media advertising, blog content backlinks, email marketing, podcasts, and video advertising.

Scope

Marketing is a broader concept encompassing various activities to promote and sell products or services. It involves understanding customer needs, creating a product or service that meets those needs, setting a price, distributing the product, and communicating its value to the target audience.

Advertising is a specific subset of marketing that focuses on creating and delivering messages to a target audience through various media channels. It is a promotional activity within the broader scope of marketing.

Duration

Once again, starting with marketing, its duration is ongoing. Essentially, a business would never stop marketing as it is a long-term process that builds and maintains customer relationships over time. It encompasses the entire customer journey, from initial awareness to post-purchase support.

Advertising campaigns are less relationship-driven and more transactional.  They are usually short-term and focused on specific messages or promotions. Advertisements are designed to create immediate impact and drive short-term results.

Components

Marketing is all about the “Four Ps” – Product, Price, Place, and Promotion.

In this context, promotion includes advertising and other elements like public relations, personal selling, and sales promotions.  What hasn’t been mentioned yet is marketing is about the brand.

Advertising primarily focuses on just the promotional aspect of marketing, and it is one of the tools used to communicate with the target audience.

Goal

Marketing: The overall goal of marketing is to satisfy customer needs profitably by delivering value through products or services.
Advertising: The primary goal of advertising is to create awareness, generate interest, and influence purchasing decisions by communicating a specific message about a product or service.

Best Free To Use Digital Marketing Strategies

You can leverage effective free digital marketing strategies to promote your business online.

Remember that success in digital marketing often involves a combination of these strategies tailored to your specific goals and target audience.

Some of the best free-to-use digital marketing strategies include:

  • Blogging – on your blog and guest blogging
  • SEO – creating snippets, optimising your website for search
  • SMM – social media marketing – much of it you can still do for free
  • Email Marketing – arguably, this is not free for bulk email delivery. However, it is low cost and can be a high reward
  • Video Marketing – creating videos and hosting them on YouTube and social media
  • Online reviews – get your customers to leave reviews on Google Reviews, Yelp and other sites

Create high-quality, valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Utilise blogging, articles, infographics, and other content formats to engage and educate your audience.

Establish a strong presence on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Regularly share engaging content, interact with your audience, and use relevant hashtags to increase visibility.

Optimise your website for search engines to improve its ranking in search results and focus on keyword research, on-page SEO, and building quality backlinks to increase organic traffic.

Build an email list by offering valuable content or incentives. Regularly send targeted and personalised emails to nurture leads, share updates, and promote your products or services.

Create engaging and informative videos for platforms like YouTube or social media. Utilise live streaming to interact with your audience in real time.

Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or industry-specific review sites.

Other free marketing strategies

Collaborations

Collaborate with other businesses or influencers in your niche for cross-promotions. Participate in online forums, groups, or communities related to your industry.

Webinars and Online Events

Host webinars or virtual events to showcase your expertise and engage with your audience. Use Zoom, Facebook Live, or YouTube to host these events.

Influencer Marketing

Identify influencers or thought leaders in your industry who align with your brand. Engage with them and explore collaboration opportunities to reach a wider audience.

Final Words

Investing in marketers can be a great return on investment if you’re not skilled in marketing yourself. However, there are ways to get your brand found that are either free or low cost when you’ve got the time to put in the effort.

Remember that consistency is critical in digital marketing. Regularly update your content, engage with your audience, and analyse the performance of your strategies to make informed adjustments over time.

HubSpot