Marketing Baller on a Budget, DIY Edition
How to be a Marketing Baller on a Budget
With the economy struggling, many companies are starting to downsize noncritical departments or expenses, and typically marketing is included in that list. I’d argue that this is the time you have to increase marketing to reduce the lost exposure, stay top of mind, and build consumer confidence. When markets are low, the cost of advertising is as well. You can buy media and goods at a fraction of the price. What if you are somewhere in the middle: not in a place to pay for an agency but don’t want to go completely dark? Here are some easy DIY marketing tips.
Graphic Design
My go-to source for graphic design is Canva. It is a great option for those who need marketing materials but don’t have the budget to outsource. It is free to use, and you only pay for assets or for your personal teams. It’s got hundreds of templates that you can utilize for banners, social posts, and even document design. Canva makes creating striking, marketing material both efficient and low cost. We were recently introduced to Visme which has a lot of potential too.
Faux In-House Designers
Say you need a graphic design that you cannot do yourself but don’t have the budget to hire a designer. An excellent way to substitute a full-time employee while still maintaining quality is to utilize spec companies. The websites 99designs and Design Pickle allow you to connect with freelance designers to get the material you need. You simply explain what you need and pay by design. I used them once in between full-time designers, and I absolutely loved their content and customer service. In case you are looking for something faster or on the fly, another option is Fiver. While it has slipped out of mind, it’s still around and kicking. I will send the occasional task to a Fiver listing if I need something but don’t need to work specifically with a designer.
Design Library
Envato is my go-to for digital assets. It has millions of photos, videos, and creators to choose from and get the content you want. You can find anything from WordPress templates to video production. It also has a vast library of tutorials if you are looking to brush up on design or coding skills to create material yourself.
Contractors
Contractors can be very helpful for completing the tasks that you don’t personally have time for or an employee. Thumbtack is a wonderful resource for such people. While you can find a contractor for virtually anything on this site, I find that they have a good selection of content writers and developers.
Swag
A good way to promote your brand is through swag. It reminds people of your company, but it can get expensive. I use the site Alibaba to drastically cut costs. You can find almost anything and put your company's name and logo on it in bulk. Unfortunately, Alibaba is a challenge when it comes to communication and can take 2-8 weeks for delivery. But, for those willing to get past that, it can cut expenses down by 75%. T-shirts are another common way to promote your brand. I have a few local LA printers and some overseas. However, when in a pinch, I am really fond of Rush Order T’s or Cafepress for custom shirts.
DIY Websites
Choosing to create your own website over paying an agency to do it can save you a lot. If you don’t want to mess with WordPress, I’m a huge fan of Squarespace. (So much so I wish they’d give me a reseller agreement, for Pete’s sake, I’ve personally built over 50 sites on this platform.) Wix is a very similar platform, although I personally prefer the Squarespace interface. Wix just recently released Edition X which could improve its program. I’m currently building a test site now to try it out. If you really want to save money, I adore Strikingly for easy small sites. I’ll use it for popup event sites or very small businesses. Each of these has a learning curve, but you can eventually get the hang of it.
Stock Images
Good photos in marketing material and websites grab the attention of customers and give it a clean look. Images can cost a fortune, and you NEVER want to put yourself at risk by grabbing random images and possibly violating copyrights. You definitely do not want to get contacted by Getty lawyers issuing you a usage violation fine. There are many royalty-free image websites that have different criteria and work off donations such as Pexels, Stocksnap, Unsplash, and Pixabay.
Video Editing
For basic video editing, Youtube studio can be a simple tool. It includes royalty-free music and cuts the download time if you are looking to upload straight to Youtube. There are also sources to help navigate it.
Design Pro in Progress?
If you are looking to design for yourself, Adobe is your go-to. Adobe is offering a lot of deals right now, and their basic tutorials are very thorough and easy to understand. It walks you through Photoshop, Premier Pro, Indesign...you name it. These applications will cover all of your design needs once you learn how to properly use them.
Create Sale Sheets or Flyer’s on the Quick
For easy promotions or flyers, it can be helpful to use a presentation or document platform. Create your materials in PowerPoint or Google Slides or Docs and export as a PDF to use as you need.
Mobile Graphic Design
When looking to quickly create material, using mobile apps can be a super easy resource. There are dozens of mobile images and video apps. Play around with some, and you can create promotional videos in minutes. Our Favorite is Picsart.
Diagrams and Process Maps
Need to diagram something for your team or a client? Maybe you need a process map to clearly outline a project or thought. You can use the website Draw.io free from Google. I even use it to map out my son’s personal escape room. Need to make Wire Frames? Our go-to is platform Moqups.
Design Deals
When designing yourself, there are a few cost-efficient tools to utilize. From fonts to graphics, there are many options to choose from. I use the sites Creative Market and Mighty Deals. They help you create cohesive themes and create the best possible content.
Materials
Business cards are the best way to give out your information when networking and a great way to spread your brand. A good business card shows that you are professional, and if it stands out, you stay top of mind. You can create your own business cards with Moo. You can custom design your card with thousands of variations to choose from. However, with Covid, we have moved to QR business cards.
You can create a world-class marketing department on your own with a little inspiration, motivation, and dedication. However, if you need a little help, reach out to Digital Rain.
