Marketing is one aspect of business you cannot ignore. In Kenya, there are several ways of marketing businesses, which include: online marketing, marketing through TV and Radio, posters and billboards. Out of all these, online marketing has been found to be the most effective-I will tell you why.
If you want your business to grow, marketing should be one of your thoughts. In Kenya, the cost of marketing your product is much lower than what developed countries charge, which is a plus for new businesses.
Now assuming you want to market your business, these are the best and cheapest way to market.
Referrals
The best way to market your business is by referrals. This I mean providing quality services to your first few clients, who will in turn sell you to other clients .I would like to warn you that running business is not easy, if you provide poor services and end up dissatisfying customers, chances of succeeding are slim. Referrals are what has made giant companies to be where they are.
Online marketing
Online marketing is the second best way to market your business. To begin with, you must know the right channels to use so as to ensure your products reach as many potential customers as possible. You can decide to push your brand through various blogs as banners or sponsored posts. Normally, sponsored posts are much cheaper and have higher potential of attracting quality customers.
The budget for sponsored articles is between Ksh 1,000-Ksh5,000 per article while banners placed on websites will cost your Ksh10,000-Ksh50,000 per month.
Besides marketing on blogs and websites, you can market on social media handles like Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook, but I would advise you to stick to blogs because most of them generate organic traffic. Organic traffic generate quality customers as compared to social media traffic. If you have an online shop where you sell women dresses, electronics, and smartphones, you better market on LinkedIn and blogs Facebook and Twitter do not have serious buyers, you will realize that out of 100 people who will contact you only one will purchase your product.
Marketing Through posters
Marketing through posters works very well for politicians and herbalists but not for people selling electronics and clothes. No one will take you serious when you market on posters.
Marketing on television and radio
This kind of marketing is suitable for established brands, real estate property and cars—it is not for small businesses.
One secret you should know today is that the cost of the plots you hear Maina Kageni advertising on classic FM is Ksh2 million per week, and imagine the advertiser is given at most 1 minute per day.
If you have businesses like fast food restaurant, boutique, farm products and online shop don’t dare market them on radio and television, this kind of advertising will cost you more than you will get from proceeds.
Billboards
Billboards are good for advertising beauty products as well as services like dental and surgical services. You can also advertise electronics, cars and farm machinery. But you should be aware that since bill boards are static, few people will notice your advert. In this case, we recommend you advertise your products online.