If you run a small local business, you know how difficult it can be to compete not only against other local small businesses, but also against the big corporate chains that have overtaken just about every industry and niche out there. This can translate to having to spend a lot of money, time, and effort on marketing yourself to get customers to come to you rather than go to the competition.

Thankfully, though, there are some really cost effective marketing ideas that are effective at getting small local businesses on the map. Continue reading to learn more.

1. Make Online Instructional Videos

Hire a local videography company or go the DIY route and use your own camera and editing equipment in order to create engaging, fun, and informative instructional videos that you can then post online on your website, social media pages, and YouTube page for your audience to enjoy.

This is a great way to engage with your current and potential customers using video content, which is considered one of the most valuable marketing tools available today. And it’s also an ideal way to show off your expertise in your niche while promoting your products and services.

2. Brand Your Company Vehicle

Riding around town and parking your company vehicle may not get you very far in terms of marketing unless you have the car custom-painted with a design that truly brands it as your own. Products like plasti dip from companies like autobodynow.com are available at affordable rates, and they’re also really flexible in terms of what they can do to revamp the exterior of your company car without having to break the bank.

Imagine driving around with a branded vehicle that shows off your logo and an image that represents your business, or at least a vehicle that has your company name and contact information on it. This is a great way to reach more people without even really trying as you go about your daily business route.

3. Host a Meetup

To really engage with your local community while bringing people together and building brand awareness in your area, consider hosting a meetup. You can rent out a facility to host the event for a small fee, or you can use your own business space to host a successful meetup and get people to walk through your door and see what you’re all about.

This is a free, casual event that you can put together quite easily in order to get people to recognize what you do in your community while also giving everyone an opportunity to network with one another. You can also use these events as opportunities to teach attendees about your services and/or products while boosting the visibility of your small business both locally and beyond.

If you’re strapped for cash when it comes to marketing your small local business, rest assured that there are plenty of affordable options that you can try in order to boost your brand’s visibility and get more people interested in what you sell.

Photo credit: Jon Aslund / Flickr