Do You Need Big Brand Advertising Budgets?

Don’t feel dejected by some of the big brand advertising campaigns – big isn’t always better.

Instead, look at how you can make the most of your marketing budget.

Every business should have a marketing budget, however small it might be. The skill in making a small budget work is in figuring out which aspects of marketing are the best fit for your business. As you know we are mad about packaging and printed bags here, so it makes sense for us to shout about why printed packaging should be high up on your marketing wish-list.

Of course using plain carrier bags or mailing bags keeps your costs down, but at what expense? There’s no value in your great products being carried along the high street in an unbranded carrier bag; just as there is no value in sending out online purchases in plain mailing bags. These big open spaces are the ideal place to promote your brand.

Having your branding and your logo on printed bags is transporting your business much further than you can imagine. When someone sees your carrier bags flooding the high street, it’s giving your brand credibility.

Packaging can influence the consumer’s satisfaction, motivate customers to purchase one item over another and even encourage customers to reject a brand. And, if that isn’t enough to make you value your packaging, here’s a few statistics from MWV’s ‘Packaging Matters’ study to gain your interest:

41% of people purchased a product again because of the packaging

64% tried a product because the packaging caught their eye

36% switched brands because of negative experiences with new packaging

MWV’s research also shows that high-cost advertising like mobile ads and billboard advertising can be less effective than something as simple as your packaging…

Only 4% are influenced by mobile ads

Only 8% are influenced by billboards

Only 11% are influences by radio ads

Only 20% are influenced by online ads

That being said it’s so important to have a strong brand both online and on the high street; small businesses communicate and build through their name, their logo and their messaging. Having a recognisable brand that is consistent throughout your website, social media, packaging and printed media is essential if you are to rise above the competition.

Did you know…

48% of consumers are more likely to become loyal to a brand during their first purchase

90% of consumers are more likely to buy from an authentic brand

The human brain processes images 60,000 times faster than it processes words

A signature colour can increase brand recognition by 80%

Marketing messages reach 561% more people when shared by employees, because people are more likely to trust other people… get your staff involved.

84% purchase a product because of a review/referral (even if it’s a stranger)

90% of consumers expect their experience with a brand to be the same across all areas – be consistent with your logs and colours, from Web, to printed bags and stationary.

77% of consumers make a purchase based on a brand name

Focus on some of these statistics to help you have an effective marketing strategy with the minimum cost.

With the right marketing strategy your printed carrier bags could be the most expensive outlay you need to make from your marketing budget… and they are not expensive! Use your website, your social media, and email marketing to get your brand out there, if you have them set up already utilise them, it will cost you nothing but time if you can do this in-house!

Online Content Marketing can really help get your business noticed in that crowded market place; if you can do this yourself all the better for your marketing budget, if you can’t, investing a portion of your marketing budget will pay dividends.

Check out these interesting facts…

90% of consumers find custom content useful

82% of consumers feel more positive about a company after reading custom content

Interesting content is one of the main reasons people follow brands on social media

60% of people are inspired to seek out a product after reading about it

Content Marketing improves brand loyalty and can increase sales

86% of B2C marketers use content marketing

68% of people spend time reading about brands that interest them

A few other small budget marketing ideas you can consider

Brand your vehicle – this way you are promoting your business up and down the roads of your local area or the whole county. Okay, your budget may not stretch to a full vehicle wrap, but you could consider a rear window decal or small panels of printed branding on the rear bumper or bonnet for example.

Pavement signs are ideal if your shop is on a busy high street or in a shopping mall. Use it to announce discounts or new stock to encourage people to stop and come inside.

Send email marketing campaigns to your existing customers, perhaps a discount voucher or news about new stock etc. This keeps you in the customers’ minds for when they are ready to purchase, or even better encourages them to purchase right then!

Team up with other local businesses. Look for complimentary businesses like a hairdresser and a beautician, or a sandwich shop and an ice-cream shop for example. You could give discount vouchers for each other or share a purchase of printed bags displaying both businesses perhaps.

Now that you realise you can market your business effectively on a small budget start putting your strategy together. When you’re ready to talk printed bags, do get in touch we’d love to help!