Refocusing Your Content Marketing Strategy After Budget Cuts

Any kind of loss for any business is terrifying, but budget cuts can send some companies into a panic.

We’ve all been there, where either we need to cut costs because not enough revenue is coming in, or they get cut off out of our control. Instead of pancaking and falling into a deeper hole of despair, try to set yourself up for success – you might even be surprised at how the results turn out!

In this article, we’ll discuss online cost-effective content marketing strategies that will help you get you back on your feet after budget cuts. And, hey, your sales might even rise higher than they ever were before!

Identify Your Top Performing Paid Marketing Strategies

It’s time to weed out your current marketing strategies and figure out which ones benefit your business the most. Choose your top three paid marketing strategies that your company cannot go without. Don’t rush this process – get different opinions, have multiple meetings and discussions, and consider all possibilities before deciding. Once you have your top 3, it’s time to eliminate the others and turn to digital!

Turn to Digital 

It’s a digital world, and if the last year and a half taught us anything, it’s that companies need to market online to survive. Utilizing digital platforms and marketing strategies can take your brand to an entirely new level. And guess what? Most online marketing is completely free! That’s why it’s one of the best tools to use when budgets are cut. Once you turn to digital, you’ll never go back. Welcome to the dark (yet extremely beneficial) side!

6 Digital Content Strategies that Won’t Break the Bank

Now that you’ll be turning to digital, it’s time to leverage everything the web has to offer! Here are 6 content strategies that will effectively increase sales without breaking the bank after those nasty budget cuts. Check them out!

1. Consider Quality Over Quantity

When costs get cut, it’s time to reconsider your marketing efforts entirely. One of the best and most effective ways to bump up your revenue is to focus on quality over quantity.

Nowadays, most companies believe they need to pump out multiple social media posts and ads a day or at least over five blogs a week, yet they don’t see the views and traffic they would expect. Trust us – less is more!

Posting less often will attract viewers rather than annoy or uninterest them. It’s time to invest your efforts into the content of your posts! You’ll see a world of difference.

2. Focus on Organic SEO

According to BrightEdge, 53.3% of website traffic comes from organic search and SEO, so this is the perfect time to utilize those numbers to the best of your ability! 

To improve your company’s ranking on Google, ultimately gaining recognition and boosting sales, you need to focus on organic SEO efforts rather than paid ones. The hard work and effort your marketing team will put in will make your successes feel that much more earned – and that will be such a great feeling! 

To learn everything about SEO and how to rank higher on Google, check out some of our previous blogs:

SEO Basics for Beginners

How to Optimize Search Intent for Your Business

Designing Your Mobile Site to Boost Sales Online

Adapting Your Website for Google’s New Page Experience Algorithm

Content Marketing Strategies that Stand Out in a Content Saturated World 

3. Encourage User-Generated Content

During this time, you MUST leverage social media. We live in a digital world where almost everyone and their mom is online! You must go to where the people are posting and talking.

Get your clients talking about your brand, product, or service online. You could do this via Instagram or Twitter with giveaways, instructing followers to like, comment, tag, and share your giveaway post as an entry. This is a fantastic way to market your brand online at no cost!

You could also create campaigns or competitions (people love to compete – so use that!). This is a great way to get people talking about your brand. Encourage followers to post videos or pictures that involve your brand and its products. Or, hop on the latest trends via Tik Tok since the algorithm is fairly new, allowing more videos to go viral or at least reach a wider audience. There are endless opportunities on socials!

4. Double-Down on Your Previous & Existing Clients

You know what they say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” So, if you already have clients interested in your brand, who are currently using or have used your products or services, then focus on them! As soon as you hear about budget cuts, turn to the customers you know. You can encourage them to spread awareness of your brand through word of mouth (we’ll get more into that strategy in the next section) or pull them back in with a good deal!

A lot of your budget may have focused on reaching new customers, so this could make a huge difference in cost. Loyalty goes a long way, and we’re sure your regulars will talk highly of your brand.

For past clients, try to reach out with a promotion, deal, or some other incentive to get them to purchase your product or services again. Sometimes people need a little reminder, maybe through an Eblast, to come back and gain interest again. You won’t know until you try!

5. Leverage Online Word-Of-Mouth (WOM) Marketing

Word-of-mouth marketing is such a powerful tool, especially in today’s digital world. According to Invesp, “88% of consumers placed the highest level of trust in word-of-mouth recommendations from people they know,” with “28% of consumers say word of mouth is the most important factor in strengthening or eroding brand affinity.” Those are some great stats! 

As much as WOM marketing may seem like a walk in the park, it does take some strategy and practice. Learn how to leverage in-person and online WOM marketing to see the results you want. 

There are two types of WOM marketing: Organic and Amplified. Organic WOM comes straight from the satisfied customer through their own volition. This is when your clients or customers have recommended your company without your asking. Amplified WOM is when your marketing department runs campaigns to encourage WOM marketing, thus advertising your brand to many people (maybe paying an influencer to talk about your brand on their social platform). 

Since you’re on a budget, here are some free WOM strategies: add flyers to products asking for customers to leave a Google review online, or, as we mentioned earlier, post a giveaway on your socials asking followers to share your post on their stories. Try asking employees to share content on their socials as well. WOM marketing can take your business to a whole new level while keeping your budget in check – it’s a win-win!

6. Utilize Your Employees’ Talents & Capabilities

During tough financial times, it’s all hands on deck. Your employees should step up to the plate and take on multiple roles until sales are back on track.

Ask everyone in the office if they have other talents or interests other than their current role, or maybe they’d like to gain experience in a new area of marketing. Even if this strategy only helps your marketing efforts a little bit, it’s worth it when you’re on a tight budget.

Make sure you find ways to compensate your employees for their extra efforts as it’s better than hiring a new employee. Your employees and wallet will appreciate the compensation!

For this strategy, discuss the pros and cons to see if it’s a right fit for your company, and if not, focus on the other five strategies to boost your sales on a budget. You’ve got this!

Contact UV Designs

We know budget cuts can be a scary reality, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your sales and marketing efforts. Leveraging the digital world is a wonderful thing that can keep you and your business on your feet! 

If you’re still feeling uncertain and terrified, we can help! Here at UV Designs, we do your content marketing for you, so the stress is out of your hands! We know how to use your budget and invest your money in content marketing strategies that provide effective results. Give us a call today at 647.478.4938 and stay tuned for our next blog for more helpful digital advice.

UV Designs’ mission is to help your business capitalize and succeed in the digital world, delivering a world-class experience for you and your clients. Contact us today!