Inexpensive Marketing Ideas to Help You Boost Your Franchise’s Brand Awareness
By Jocelyn Van Saun
February 13, 2024
Running a successful franchise doesn’t only require you to offer excellent products or services.
You also must get the word out about your business, bringing in new customers and encouraging them to continue to choose your brand. That’s what marketing is all about, but in the digital age, it can sometimes feel daunting and complicated.
While digital marketing is here to stay, there’s nothing wrong with using some more traditional marketing tactics to complement your digital strategy. Going back to basics can help you reach customers that may have been overlooked and allow you to engage with your audience in new ways.
Best of all, many traditional marketing strategies are cheap, meaning they don’t need to compete for space in your budget with (when done correctly) more reliable but costly tactics, like paid advertising. Simply by investing your time and energy, you can up your marketing efforts and increase awareness of your brand within your local community.
Not sure where to start? Take a look at some of our favorite strategies below.
1. Promote your business with a new mascot.
If your brand doesn’t already have a mascot, consider creating one and introducing it to the world.
If you’re under the impression mascots should only be reserved for more youth-centric brands, think about the Geico lizard or the Michelin man.
Mascots are effective marketing tools for audiences of all ages because they allow customers to put a face to the entity, they’re building a relationship with. In other words, a mascot can help you avoid becoming just another faceless business.
2. Design a company blog that’s worth a read.
Even as platforms like Twitter promote short-form content, blogs are still a useful tool for businesses.
Posting on a company blog gives you the chance to connect with customers, both existing and potential, without feeling hampered by a character limit. You can delve into topics that require a bit more explanation and position yourself as a thought leader by providing useful information your audience is looking for – information that can’t be found in tweets and captions.
Blogs are also great because you can use them to boost the search engine optimization (SEO) of your website. Posting consistently and including keywords that are frequently searched for will signal to search engines that your website is reputable. As a result, you’ll improve your chances of cutting through the noise of the internet.
3. Create social media accounts for your business
Then you can link to those blogs through your social media accounts. This gives you double exposure as your blogs potentially rank in the search engine results pages and as your followers on social media see them.
Whether it be Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, begin by selecting the platforms that align with your business goals and target audience, ensuring consistency in branding across all channels.
You’ll then want to develop a strategic content plan that blends promotional, educational, and entertaining elements to maintain audience engagement. It’s important that once you commit to building a presence on social media, you interact with your audience, respond to comments and messages promptly, and leverage analytics tools to monitor content performance. By staying informed about emerging trends and adapting your strategy accordingly, you can transform your social media accounts into dynamic hubs that foster meaningful connections and elevate your brand’s online presence.
4. Present interesting data in an easy-to-digest format.
You may not realize it, but the data behind your business tells an interesting story. Run the numbers to see what details come through – perhaps you’re about to reach your 1,000th client, 500th review, or another important milestone.
Don’t hesitate to share these numbers with your customers, whether by putting out a physical sign or posting online. To go one step further, plug these numbers into an infographic that is both eye-catching and informative.
5. Host an online/in-person workshop or event.
One way to draw in new customers is to provide them with a free opportunity to learn more about your industry and business.
By hosting a workshop, class, or similar event, you can bring folks who are interested in what you offer right to your door.
A successful event can also instill in customers confidence in your professionalism and trust in your knowledge as an industry authority. And it doesn’t have to break your bank – Think of an open house or online webinar. Moreover, it will show you appreciate not only paying customers, but those who value what your industry is doing.
Once again, this type of promotion can reap additional benefits as you promote it through social media, in-store signage, and through other media avenues.
6. Collaborate with a complementary business or charity.
Have you been struggling to reach a certain target audience?
Gain access to a new customer base by partnering with a business that offers products or services complementary to yours, or even a charity that works in a similar field.
There are a few ways to go about this, such as jointly hosting an event, promotion, or giveaway. Depending on your goals and the organization you team up with, this partnership could be temporary or long-term.
The Takeaway
With these simple, cost-effective ideas you can be on your way to a more robust marketing strategy. By going beyond clicks and stats with your marketing efforts, you can show a different side of your business to both potential and existing customers.
In essence, these initiatives form the building blocks of a comprehensive marketing strategy that speaks to the heart of your audience. As you go beyond the surface-level metrics, you’re telling a richer story—one that engages, connects, and leaves a lasting impression. So, embrace these approaches, infuse your marketing with authenticity, and watch as your brand takes on a more vibrant, multifaceted persona in the eyes of both potential and existing customers. Socius Marketing believes that by going beyond conventional approaches, you can redefine your marketing strategy and present a more comprehensive picture of your brand to potential and existing customers.