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As a small business owner or marketing manager for a company, you may have discovered that stretching your marketing budget isn’t always as easy as it may seem. Finding creative ways to promote a business by using online tools combined with one-on-one interaction can be an effective way to generate interest locally, and nationwide.

Cheap web hosting

Building and maintaining a website is one of the most important marketing tools a business owner can invest in. Over the past few years, the competitive nature of the Web hosting industry has created opportunities to get cheap Web hosting and easy Web site set-up. Companies like iPage, Host Gator and Yahoo! offer Web hosting for as little as $3.95 per month, which includes a custom domain name, easy web page templates, eCommerce options, WordPress integration, and more. Once your Website is up and running, you’ve created a dedicated place to refer customers so they can purchase product, view specials or daily deals, and sign up to receive your business newsletter.

Newsletters

Creating an opt-in newsletter provides regular updates to customers or clients, maintains the visibility created through the development of a website, and provides the customer with tips or solutions to a specific problem. Writing content for the newsletter can be as simple or detailed as you want to make it. Through my own small business newsletter, I write short articles to give my clients free ideas on how to use social media to their best advantage. I also offer a referral discount if they share a specific link to the newsletter, resulting in potential new business. Mail Chimp is a great free solution for adding email newsletter signup abilities to your website: Constant Contact is another solid option with plans starting at less than $20 monthly.

Social networking

Creating a social network is free and easy. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn function as the “Big Three”, with Google +1 making a strong showing in the social networking arena. All it takes to create an account is filling in a simple sign up page, and optimizing your page with pertinent business facts or details. Using these platforms to promote your business, pass along specials, or share timely information with your clients and customers is one of the most important ways a business can become visible — and transparent – at the same time. Gaining visibility by cultivating a social network, then showing transparency by being open, approachable, and responsive has become the sign of the times throughout the world.

Good PR

According to the International Data Corporation, in 2011, 5.6 Million small businesses will use social media for the first time to promote their business. Facebook Places, FourSquare, and Google Latitude all offer your customers a way to “check in” using their Smartphone when they enter a storefront, coffee shop or business. This tells their friends on Facebook or Twitter where they are, and is a free way to drive business your way. The business can also offer deals or incentives for frequenting their establishment. In managing your web persona Sprout Social offers a solution to help juggle your social networks, with an interactive platform that places Facebook, Twitter, Digg, and LinkedIn into an integrated dashboard, simplifying the way you communicate with your followers. Tweet Deck is a free platform which makes it easy to post status updates and information to your network as well, allowing you to view and respond to your social network followers.

Business Networking

Once you’ve built your inexpensive website and nurtured your free social media empire, the next step is to take it to the streets. Making face-to-face contact with colleagues and your local social network followers is a valuable way to grow your business. People want to know that they’re getting the most value for their dollar… as well as knowing who they’re doing business with. Making contacts in a real-world situation, through a Chamber of Commerce function or a free local Meet Up group can boost sales and grow your contact list. By utilizing the free and low-cost offerings Web 2.0 has to offer, then reinforcing that with your participation in the local community, you may find that marketing your business without breaking the bank is entirely feasible.