{"id":276328,"date":"2016-10-13T04:07:21","date_gmt":"2016-10-12T17:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.easyweddings.com\/au\/pro-education\/25-zero-budget-marketing-ideas\/"},"modified":"2016-10-13T04:07:21","modified_gmt":"2016-10-12T17:07:21","slug":"25-zero-budget-marketing-ideas","status":"publish","type":"au-pro-education","link":"https:\/\/www.easyweddings.com.au\/pro-education\/25-zero-budget-marketing-ideas\/","title":{"rendered":"25 zero-budget marketing ideas"},"content":{"rendered":"

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You might\u00a0stock the most unique wedding products of the highest quality at\u00a0unbeatable\u00a0prices<\/a>, but without marketing,\u00a0you have no buyers. Hiring wedding marketing specialists can be a hefty investment for small businesses, so\u00a0before you go blowing your\u00a0budget on full-service\u00a0agency fees, try your hand at some\u00a0of these super effective and *free marketing ideas that (mostly) won’t cost you a cent:<\/p>\n

1. Network<\/span><\/h2>\n

Often one of the most frightening and yet equally rewarding forms of wedding business marketing is networking<\/a>. This could be attending\u00a0wedding expos<\/a>, women’s business events, small business seminars, Easy Weddings’ free supplier nights, or wedding-themed Meetup<\/a> groups. If just the thought of talking to strangers makes your heart race, follow this\u00a0introvert’s guide to powerful networking<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can also expand\u00a0your network of\u00a0fellow suppliers by adding them to your Pro-Network on your Easy Weddings profile. This shows prospective customers how connected you are with other wedding vendors, increasing your credibility and building trust in your brand.<\/p>\n

2. Start blogging<\/span><\/h2>\n

Create\u00a0a spreadsheet and start brainstorming\u00a0all the wedding\u00a0blog\u00a0ideas<\/a> your business can\u00a0cover, including: DIY videos<\/a>, real weddings<\/a>, wedding planning tips<\/a>, how-to’s<\/a>, listicles, before & afters, industry news, company announcements, milestones and product releases.<\/p>\n

Once you’ve decided on your topics\u00a0and created a schedule\u00a0for publishing across your website and social media, follow these\u00a010 tips to get your business\u2019 blog rocking<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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3. Write guest posts<\/h2>\n

In addition to self-publishing blog posts\u00a0on your own website, consider writing for other non-competitive wedding businesses and platforms.\u00a0Publishers are always looking for relevant, entertaining and\u00a0educational content<\/a>\u00a0to share with their audience so look for publications your customers read, understand the types of stories and angles they tend to write about, then submit your story ideas\u00a0for approval with some high-res pics to sweeten the deal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Easy Weddings<\/a> publishes stories on real weddings as well as wedding how to’s, tips and trends. If you have a story you think might be suitable for our readers please send it\u00a0to content@easyweddings.com.au<\/a>\u00a0so we can take a look!\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4. Ask for referrals\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Don’t be afraid to ask for referrals; they can dramatically reduce your cost per lead while significantly increasing your closing rate for sales. When a recommendation has come from a trusted source, customers are\u00a0more likely to purchase from the referred source\u00a0than risk buying from an\u00a0untried competitors, so setup a referral campaign and\u00a0invite more customers to recommend\u00a0your business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Use email marketing to announce your referral campaign and let past customers, associates, friends and family know about they exciting perks\u00a0they’ll receive for putting in a good word.<\/p>\n

5. Speak at industry events<\/span><\/h2>\n

Don’t underestimate how much you really know about your business and how valuable sharing this information can be. Speaking at industry events and expos helps build your profile and positions you as a leader in your field.<\/p>\n

Seek out smaller local community events to\u00a0hone\u00a0your public speaking skills first if your delivery is a bit rusty, then when you’re confident on the stage and you’ve got your act down pat, move onto the larger, more targeted wedding events.<\/p>\n

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6. Ride the wave<\/span><\/h2>\n

This type of guerrilla (non-traditional) marketing involves piggy-backing off what’s hot\u00a0in the media right now and\u00a0using it to lure or engage customers. Using Pokemon GO for business is one recent example of riding the wave, which allows businesses to take part in a global phenomena on a local level.<\/p>\n

Royal weddings<\/a>, celebrity news<\/a> and seasonal events like Valentines Day<\/a> are also easy waves for wedding businesses to attract\u00a0customers with timely content and innovative marketing ideas.<\/p>\n

7. Social media brandjacking \u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is another\u00a0type of guerrilla \u00a0social media marketing whereby businesses\u00a0jump on a trending hashtag<\/a> and join the conversation.\u00a0<\/span>For example,\u00a0if Richie Strahan from #TheBachelorAU proposes with a ring similar to one you stock, post a picture of your ring across social media using the official hashtag.<\/p>\n

Similarly, if\u00a0<\/span>the winning lady wears a dress, shoes, earrings or other accessory that you stock, let viewers know they can purchase it from your store by adding in the official hashtag to maximise exposure.<\/p>\n

If you’re a makeup artist, you could create a DIY video tutorial to help your followers get the look of the winning contestant for their big day.<\/p>\n

Word of warning:<\/strong>\u00a0this tactic should be used\u00a0judiciously- brandjacking can\u00a0backfire brilliantly<\/a>.<\/p>\n

8. Collaborate <\/span><\/h2>\n

Team up with non-competing suppliers on an\u00a0event or educational series. A florist, venue, planner\/stylist, decorator, photographer, videographer and\u00a0a transport\u00a0company, for example,\u00a0could team up and run a workshop for brides on boho styling tips, planning the ultimate Spring wedding<\/a>, or\u00a0organising the perfect\u00a0vintage-themed ceremony<\/a>… the options are endless!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Source: Tizia May Photography<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Form strategic partnerships\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

This could be a financial partnership (where referral commission is paid) or value exchange, whereby your customer receives a gift card for the partnering business\u00a0when they spend $X in store or online with you. Check out these tips on how to run a successful cross promotion<\/a>\u00a0for inspiration.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

10. Volunteer or raise awareness\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Align your business with a charitable cause or social enterprise that you personally believe in that helps bring you\u00a0closer to your target audience and influencers. The Cancer Council’s Girls’ Night In<\/a>, Pink Ribbon Day<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea<\/a>\u00a0are great causes to get behind, as are\u00a0Pet Rescue<\/a>, Project Futures<\/a> and Thank You Group.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sign up to host a fundraising event in-store or at a local cafe, or enter your staff into a charitable fundraiser like a fun run and encourage your customers and social media followers to join your team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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11. Offer something for free\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The old “Sign up to receive our newsletter”\u00a0list building<\/a>\u00a0call to action is starting to show its age, so try offering your website visitors\u00a0something of greater value, like a free consultation, 14-day\u00a0trial, a product sample or an ebook. People then hand over their email address (including permission to market to them via email)\u00a0in exchange for your exciting offer, also referred to\u00a0as a lead magnet.<\/p>\n

If you’re not sure what your customers will be most responsive to, trial three different offers for a month each\u00a0and\u00a0continue on with the offer that received the most leads in the month it was live.<\/p>\n

12. Email marketing\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

When done well, email marketing<\/a>\u00a0is one of the highest converting, most cost-effective forms of marketing. Once your winning offer is pulling in a steady stream of qualified leads, it’s time to start marketing to them and helping them get better acquainted with your brand. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are 5 types of email you can start scheduling immediately<\/a> to build rapport with audience, provide value to your customers and drive traffic to your website to increase sales.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

13. Get reviews – crucial in the wedding industry!<\/span><\/h2>\n

Easy Weddings website data shows that suppliers with 11+ reviews in their Storefront get 201% more results than those without. If you’re low on reviews, don’t be afraid to ask! If you’ve had a positive experience with a customer and played a meaningful part in their wedding day celebrations, chances are they’ll be only too happy to provide you with a couple of lines to express their appreciation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can then add these to your Easy Weddings profile using the Reviews Widget<\/a> and share them across your social media and website blog for the rest of the wedding world to see.<\/p>\n

14. Show real weddings\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Just as Easy Weddings do\u00a0with our Real Weddings<\/a>\u00a0features, you too can showcase your work through your clients’\u00a0weddings by posting pictures across your blog and social media. These real-life examples of your craft or products in action will inspire soon-to-be brides and invite enquiries about how you\u00a0can replicate or modify the work shown in your images to suit their individual needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

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15. Participate in forum discussions\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Forums like Whirlpool.net.au<\/span> and Quora.com<\/span><\/a> are used by couples to ask for advice and tips from industry professionals and those\u00a0who’ve gone before. The benefit is two-fold; being active in forums like this helps drive traffic back to your website as well as\u00a0helping to\u00a0establish yourself as a wedding authority and\u00a0credible source of information, which in turn leads\u00a0to more sales. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now before you start trolling forums, be sure to brush on your forum etiquette, including the golden rule: any obvious\u00a0promotion of your own products and services which is of\u00a0no direct relevance to the reader and their question is a big no-no!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

16. Offer advice and be generous with it\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Use Easy Weddings’ new\u00a0Expert Advice<\/a>\u00a0feature\u00a0to\u00a0respond directly to\u00a0couples with questions relating to your area of expertise. Questions could\u00a0include anything from recommendations on the best flowers for an autumn wedding, through to dealing with guests’ dietary requirements<\/a>. By sharing your advice and opinion freely, you are building trust and rapport with potential customers in a non-salesy, relaxed environment – and it won’t cost you a cent! Check out the latest wedding advice questions here<\/a>. \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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17. Get free publicity \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The media is always looking for people to interview, so sign up for\u00a0<\/a>Sourcebottle<\/a>;\u00a0the connecting force between busy journos in need of a quick story and wedding vendors seeking free marketing opportunities. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll be taken through a selection process that ensures you get\u00a0notified of callouts for wedding experts and other other interview\u00a0<\/span><\/span>opportunities\u00a0relevant to your business.<\/p>\n

18. Craft a unique selling proposition<\/h2>\n

In a competitive\u00a0industry\u00a0where \u2018exceptional customer service\u2019 and \u2018superior quality\u2019\u00a0are the standard\u00a0rather than an extra, your\u00a0business needs a competitive advantage, called a value proposition.<\/p>\n

The good news is you\u00a0don’t have to hire a professional copywriter; nobody knows the heart and soul of your business better than you, so follow these tips on\u00a0how to write a value proposition that generates more website enquiries<\/a> and differentiate your business from competitors with a strong guarantee or a killer offer.<\/p>\n

19. Work with a social media influencer\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Influencer marketing is about aligning your brand with a person who has a following that consists of\u00a0your target audience. It’s not always about choosing someone\u00a0with millions of followers; instead, it may be better to connect with up-and-coming influencers who have only a few thousand (but highly-engaged) followers, who are perfectly poised to need your product or services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many ways to work with influencers\u00a0that don’t\u00a0include paying them to post about you or your product. It’s about value-exchange – what do you have (connections, influence, audience size, events or new products to\u00a0review) that they might value, and vice versa. For tips on profiling, finding and negotiating with your ideal influencer, check out Kissmetrics’ Definitive Guide to Influencer Targeting<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

20. Learn how to take good photos with an iPhone\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

The only industry more visual than the wedding space\u00a0is photography itself, and if you’re not a professional\u00a0photographer, creating high-quality images for marketing can be a challenge. This is where\u00a0getting thrifty\u00a0with your\u00a0smartphone camera can come in handy! With smartphone technology advancing so rapidly there are literally thousands of free online tutorials for taking beautiful pictures with your smartphone<\/a>, so you don’t need to fork out a cent.<\/p>\n

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Source: Photography Concentrate<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

21. Use photo-editing apps\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you can’t afford a graphic designer<\/a> or professional photo editing software,\u00a0there are plenty of online amateur editing tools available for free to help you brand and customise your pics. Here’s a list of\u00a0<\/span>free Photoshop alternatives<\/a>\u00a0from TechRadar to get you started and a plethora of free stock images<\/a> to play with.<\/p>\n

22. Optimise your images for Google image search\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Google image search<\/a> is a vital source of traffic for visual businesses in the\u00a0wedding industry,\u00a0as\u00a0it returns an endless\u00a0number of pics\u00a0at lightning speed to curious brides searching for wedding planning<\/a>\u00a0inspo. But how can you be sure your images are showing up in searches? Follow these 5 simple strategies to optimise your photos for Google\u2019s image search<\/a>\u00a0and increase your chances of Google putting your images in front of potential wedding customers.<\/p>\n

23. Know your keywords\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As part of your image editing process to optimise\u00a0your pics\u00a0for\u00a0Google image search<\/a>\u00a0you\u00a0need to know the keywords your customers are searching. Using keyword planning tools like\u00a0Google Keyword Planner, SEMRush<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Keyword Tool <\/a>will help you\u00a0find\u00a0relevant\u00a0keywords and discover\u00a0search volume data that relates\u00a0to your wedding business. Once you’ve got your high-volume keywords, you can start\u00a0DIY SEO’ing your wordpress website<\/a>… All on your own!<\/p>\n

24. Optimise your social media profiles<\/span><\/h2>\n

The number of social media business profiles that don’t have full contact details and well-written\u00a0value propositions<\/a> is startling,\u00a0particularly given that\u00a074% of consumers rely on social media to make a buying decision.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All social media profiles should include your website, full contact details where possible and a compelling (or at least complete) description of what your business offers. And if your social media handles are obscure or not instantly recognisable as belonging to your business, change your Facebook\u00a0username<\/a>,\u00a0edit your Twitter handle<\/a>\u00a0and update your Instagram profile to something more appropriate an ideally uniform across all platforms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As an example, check out\u00a0the Easy Weddings social media accounts for fully optimised (and customised) accounts:<\/p>\n