Top 8 High ROI Marketing Tactics | Leverage Marketing Even If You Have a Low-Budget Startup or Business

1. Content marketing

Content marketing is one of the most common low cost, high ROI marketing tactics to grow your business. If we were to speak in cliches, we’d say that content is king. But that’s not how we’re going to approach this. Instead, let’s look at the numbers. At Growth Hackers, we’ve helped brands generate 3x more leads through smart, high-quality content that educates, entertains, and engages audiences… proving that content marketing isn’t just cost-effective, it’s transformational.

According to Demand Metric, content marketing isn’t just 62% cheaper than its traditional alternatives. But even more, it brings in three times as many leads. And the absolute best thing about it? A content marketing strategy is simple to implement.

You can decide to focus your energy on the (now standard) blog. Or invest in social media. You can even choose the more creative path of producing podcasts or videos. But, whichever of the tactics you go with, you’re sure to find that this type of marketing works. High-quality, original content positively impacts brand authority, reach, and engagement, and you can do it for free (or at a low cost).

When creating content, however, do your absolute best to make yours unique. Look for ways to entertain, engage, or educate. For example, you can take a look at what Drink LMNT is doing with their blog posts regarding electrolytes. Instead of taking a sales-y approach, they’re educating their target audience about the benefits of electrolyte drinks and how they can be combined with different dietary restrictions.

3. Social media

As of this year, there are more than 3.96 billion active social media users worldwide. That means that more than half of the Earth’s population is spending time on a social media platform. And that’s not all. Internet users spend an average of 144 minutes per day on social networking. That’s not just a lot of users, but also a lot of time to engage with them.

Before Growth Hackers implemented a social strategy for one of our B2B SaaS clients, engagement was low and traffic minimal but after working with our team, regular posting, audience interaction, and content promotion amplified visibility and drove measurable growth. So how do you make the most of social media?

Well, first things first, you’ve got to be there.

Do your research, and find out what platforms your target audience is using. Once you know where your potential customers are, make sure you’re there as well.

To get the absolute most out of your efforts, follow these simple tips:

• Post consistently. It doesn’t have to be every single day, but make sure your profiles are regularly updated with new (or repeated content). Tools such as Buffer can help you schedule your posts, cutting down on the time you spend on your chosen platforms.
• Engage with your audience. Employ social listening techniques, and look for ways to build conversations with your potential customers. Engagement leads to familiarity, and familiarity leads to sales, so make the absolute most of all available channels.
• Provide an excellent user experience. It’s not a bad idea to extend your customer service efforts onto your social media profiles. Being approachable and helpful is one of the main things that will drive sales. And, it costs absolutely nothing, so that’s an automatic high ROI.
• Drive traffic to your website. Of course, don’t forget that you can easily combine SEO and social media tactics, and drive organic traffic to your site. The most basic way to do this is to share your original content.

4. Influencer marketing

Influencer marketing When it comes to getting the word out about your business, nothing works better than word of mouth, especially if you consider that 74% of purchasing decisions are influenced by it.

This is a clear indicator that making social proof part of your marketing tactics is something you should be considering. The easiest way to do it would be adding a reviews section to your website. At Growth Hackers, we’ve partnered with influencers across industries to amplify brands, creating authentic social proof that drives engagement, trust, and 11x higher ROI than traditional campaigns.

But, there’s another marketing strategy that allows you to generate social proof: influencer marketing. By finding the right influencers, you can reach your target audience at a much lower cost and without the risk of losing on your investments due to ad blockers. Moreover, research suggests that influencer marketing offers 11 times higher ROI than other forms of digital marketing. This makes it a tactic suitable, even for the most low-budget businesses.

5. Referral marketing

Referral marketing is like planting seeds in a trusted network: Growth Hackers helps your satisfied customers spread your brand organically, growing new business naturally and reliably. Of course, you shouldn’t disregard any alternative ways of building an audience, especially when you’re working with limited funds.

Incentives such as referral marketing offer an excellent opportunity for most small businesses. The following are the most beneficial results of referral marketing:

• It helps you generate word of mouth. Referral marketing works by reaching new potential clients through people they already know or follow. Because these are people from their direct environment, potential clients are far more likely to trust their recommendations than if a celebrity suggested them.
• It boosts customer retention. By offering existing clients the opportunity to get a discount, you are more likely to drive them to choose your brand for their next purchase.