As we all attempt to navigate our way through the turbulent times ahead, it’s fair to say that marketing your business might seem an overwhelming prospect right now. But now more than ever, effective marketing will be a crucial element of sustaining your existing customers and ensuring you are continuing to put your products and services in front of the right audiences.
The good news is, with a little bit of time and a minimal amount of money, there are some things you can do to weather the storm while your original marketing plans are put on ice. We’ve put together our guide to the best free marketing tools on the market right now that won’t take you an age to implement and, if they aren’t completely free of charge, will cost you less than a cup of coffee.
How do I get free, professional images?
Professional photographs make your marketing stand but, but if you can’t afford a photoshoot there are plenty of websites offering free, stock images you can use across a range of marketing materials. Our favourite is Pixabay which offers more than 1.7 million high quality images you can use anywhere. Even better – they are royalty free, which means they are safe to use without asking for permission or giving credit to the artist – even for commercial purposes. Although they won’t replace unique or tailored images and brand design, they are useful as a cost-effective solution for applying to blogs or social media content.
Where can I get simple design work done for free?
OK, so it’s not entirely the same as having a professional design team’s expertise at your fingertips, but if you’re in a fix and need a quick and simple leaflet designing or require some images resizing then you can do it yourself with Canva. It’s completely free for 30 days and you can cancel at any time. You won’t be the next Dali, but you will be pleased with the results.
How can I send a marketing email campaign for free?
What better way to send information about your latest offers, services or discounts then through an email marketing campaign? If you’ve already got a mailing list, then you’re just one step away from creating a campaign. One of the best known email marketing and newsletter websites Mailchimp has been a mainstay for SMEs for many years. Simple and easy to use it has numerous benefits. However, there are limits for how many email addresses you can distribute to under a free account login, as well as rules you will need to follow, namely GDPR compliance, so you don’t end up getting into hot water. Our advice: always ensure you have the person’s permission to email them with your news and offers before distributing.
How can I manage my social media efficiently for free?
It’s important to continue to keep in touch with your customers regularly through your social media feeds. Providing updates, advice and even light-hearted content will mean you can continue to keep them aware of and engaged with your business. If you don’t have the time, or the resources, to post content on your social media feeds every day, then Hootsuite is an all-in-one tool that allows you to schedule and post to a variety of different social media platforms in advance, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. It offers a 30-day free trial with prices for one user starting at £25 per month.
How can I get free business leads?
All businesses need new customers and the good news is there’s a facility that can help you to generate email leads from your website completely free of charge. HupSpot Marketing Free allows you to convert website visitors to new customers and provides live chat capabilities as well as analytics so you can keep track of website traffic and conversions.
All these free marketing tools are a great way to keep on top of simple marketing tasks and, while they will never replace the expertise and guidance of a professional marketing team, they will help you to add a bit of oomph to your marketing ideas.
