No matter how much you’ve got to spend on marketing, the following are inexpensive, yet impactful ways to gain maximum exposure for your business. 1) Facebook Ads If you’ve previously advertised on Facebook by posting info on your business page and then letting the promotion filter into your News Feed, you will see this feature gradually go away. Facebook is pushing companies to purchase advertising through Facebook for Business, to reduce the amount of overly promotional page posts in users’ News Feeds. 2) Social Marketing Whether it’s Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest, the key is to know how to interact on each platform. LinkedIn and Google+ are also becoming quite popular as professional social networks where people can share in group discussions and leverage content that positions them as industry thought leaders. LinkedIn provides the ability to insert a free banner ad of sorts on your company page. 3) Email Marketing It’s a way to connect with customers who you may not be able to reach by phone or who don’t visit your business frequently. 4) Direct Mail Direct mail provides the opportunity to deliver highly-targeted campaigns based on the demographics of your choosing, including zip code, income, age, gender, hobbies, etc. In this increasingly digital culture, people feel special when they receive a personalized piece of mail, and they are more likely to read it and respond. 5) Industry Conferences and Tradeshows If you’re able to present a relevant industry topic when these tradeshows are attached to a conference, whether it is for a main session or a break out, this provides an additional opportunity for you to promote your company’s expertise. 6) Presentations and Speaking Engagements Sharing your knowledge at professional industry association events, or educating students on the ins and outs of being an entrepreneur are all ways to share your market knowledge and subtly promote your business, potentially leading to partnerships in the future. 7) Demonstrations and Courses Everyone loves a free coupon or flyer, but inviting people to come in and learn something they can do on their own can leave more of a lasting impression. 8) Community Outreach and Philanthropy A simple event sponsorship, donation, joint partnership with another local establishment, or volunteering a few hours are all great ways to give back to the community. Keep an ear out for any local causes that resonate with your customer base. 9) Industry Partnerships Collaborating on a specific effort, or an ongoing series of initiatives, provides the opportunity for you to access additional audiences and potential customers that you might not ordinarily reach. 10) Public Relations Whether it’s a published article, a radio or TV segment, or coverage of a speaking engagement, public relations is an effective way to promote and bring additional exposure to your business.

1. 10 ways to maximize your
marketing budget in 2015

2. It’s all about the
Benjamin's
baby

3. And no matter how many you have to spend

4. or don’t
have

5. you want to maximize your exposure

6. using the most impactful methods.

9. Facebook’s organic reach of
self-promoting posts is dropping. average Facebook
user spends 40
minutes a day on
the platform

10. What this
means to
you…

11. you need to pay to play
for promotional content

12. So create posts
with sharing in mind.

13. Use this opportunity to educate

14. and engage
your audience.
What if it was silent
while this pic was taken?

15. Don’t forget to cross-promote
on other social platforms.

17. Interact on each major platform

18. Strengths: Widely-adopted by large
segments of the population.
Weaknesses: Will the younger generation stay on
Facebook once Grandma has “friended” them?
47% say
Facebook has the
greatest impact
on purchase
behavior

19. Strengths: Used by large segments of the population.
Weaknesses: Can be a distraction
79% of Twitter
users are more
likely to recommend
brands they follow

20. Instagram
Strengths: A fun, easy-to-use app.
Weaknesses: Other apps provide a similar experience.
Instagram is used
by 200 million
people each
month

21. Pinterest
Strengths: A visually-appealing way to
share information with followers.
Weaknesses: Competition from a wide
variety of other social media platforms.
57% of users
discuss food-
related content

22. LinkedIn
2 new LinkedIn
users are added
every second
Strengths: Everybody’s on LinkedIn.
Weaknesses: Most people have trouble
knowing what to do with LinkedIn after
they upload their business information.

23. Google+
Strengths: Ease-of-use and uncluttered environment.
Weaknesses: Competition from other
well-established social media platforms.
Google+ actually
averages more
visits per month
than Facebook.

25. Market to customers as frequently as you would like
(but not too frequently).

26. Reach customers
at specific times.
$44.25 is the
average return for
every $1 spent on
email marketing

27. 91% open rate
for direct mail
sent to
prospects

28. People feel special when they
receive a personalized piece of mail

29. which means they’ll be more
likely to read it and respond.

31. Network with the BIG BOYS and get your name out there.

33. Share your knowledge at professional
industry association events

34. while subtly
promoting
your business

35. which could
potentially
lead to
partnerships.

37. Invite people to
learn something
they can do on
their own.

39. Two is always better than one.

40. Collaborating on a specific effort,
or an ongoing series of initiatives

41. provides the opportunity for you to access
additional audiences and potential customers
that you might not ordinarily reach.

43. Give back to the community that
helped your business prosper.
Hecky Powell (middle)
Owner of Hecky’s Barbecue
Evanston IL

45. Disseminate a positive message
about your company

46. which makes people more receptive
to doing business with you.

47. So in the end, it’s not the size of
your budget, but how you use it.