Marketing on a budget

24 replies
Hi, I'm new to this forum so apologise if I'm asking this in the wrong place.

We've recently launched a new comparison website that allows people to filter and search for products via things like price, ingredients, weight etc. The site's gaining a great deal of momentum on Facebook but today that hasn't translated into sales from our site yet.

The problem is that we have a very limited budget and didn't know the best way of marketing this. We have a mailing list of just over 3000 email addresses but having looking into email marketing this would cost nearly £2k with MailChimp so at the moment can't use that.

What's the best way of getting our site out there so that people are aware of us?

Thanks in advance for any help.
#budget #marketing
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  • Profile picture of the author NaveenVikram
    Hello Lucy apart from Mail chimp there are several email marketing platforms available at an affordable cost. I would suggest Getresponse because I have used it before. One more way is you can lead generation ads on both Facebook and LinkedIn to drive awareness to your site as well you can capture some quality leads using this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
    Thank you, I've not heard about get response so will look at that. In terms of Facebook/LinkedIn ads that was something we had considered but didn't know if it actually worked.

    Thanks for the advice
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  • Profile picture of the author Trey Morgan
    If you're getting a great deal of momentum on Facebook but not making any sales then you have a conversion problem. But then again I'm not exactly sure what you mean by a "great deal of momentum". If it means that you're getting hundreds or thousands of visitors to your site and you're not making any sales then you may want to improve your sales process.

    And I second getresponse. I believe they have a 30 day free trial you can take advantage of.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark-Dickenson
    Hi Lucy.

    Gosh...that seems like a really high price for 3,000 emails.

    I use Aweber and have used them for 10 plus years. I have tried Get Response but had better delivery with the same list with Aweber but I do know a lot of happy people with Get Response so I would just pick one and go with it. Much better than the current deal you are getting

    -Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Tino Farrington
    Just as NaveenNikram said.

    Getresponse works well, but another platform available to you would be Aweber. It includes a 30 day free trial.
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  • Profile picture of the author mshamir
    Welcome to the forum! We're glad to help you. I'm crazy about Aweber!
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Creating valuable content on a self-hosted WP blog - $15 for domain name and about $15 a month for solid hosting - and building your friend network by generously helping top entrepreneurs in your niche works wonder. Foundation for stunning success. Take this path, you'll save money, you'll learn of the highly prospering quality of being patient and you will grow a wildly successful business over the long haul.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
    Thanks guys you've been extremely helpful. I had a look at get response and will check out Aweber - especially if it has a 30 day trail. I have to apologise those, I think my computer auto corrected the number of email addresses. I tried to write 300K but it changed the k to another 0!

    With regards to the momentum from Facebook it's around 200 likes in a week, some of those are going to our site but not all of them and so far no sales.

    Thanks again guys
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  • Profile picture of the author ricohprinter
    how to change it from k to zero
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  • Profile picture of the author cearionmarie
    Are you aware of influencer marketing? This method should help you reach a larger audience. I suggest you learn more about that before you try it so you would know what you should be doing. But as far as I can tell, It's a pretty effective way of reaching audiences.
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    Cearion Uy - Marketing Advisor
    www.influencerauditor.com

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    • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
      Originally Posted by cearionmarie View Post

      Are you aware of influencer marketing? This method should help you reach a larger audience. I suggest you learn more about that before you try it so you would know what you should be doing. But as far as I can tell, It's a pretty effective way of reaching audiences.

      No I've not heard of that but will look it up, thank you
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  • Profile picture of the author NetNewt
    You can have up to 7,500 contacts and unlimited sends on market hero for $99 / month.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    I have no idea why OP is focused on an email list generated from Facebook when they've already said Facebook doesn't convert into sales.

    Why waste your time with a problem email list?
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    • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      I have no idea why OP is focused on an email list generated from Facebook when they've already said Facebook doesn't convert into sales.

      Why waste your time with a problem email list?
      My mailing list didn't come from Facebook it's a list of contacts I made that I think may be interested in the site.
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  • Profile picture of the author affmarketer101
    Seperate the list into several lists and send from multiple freemium email marketing platforms.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
      Originally Posted by affmarketer101 View Post

      Seperate the list into several lists and send from multiple freemium email marketing platforms.
      That's a good idea, I just presumed I'd have to send in one go.
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  • Profile picture of the author Akula78
    Originally Posted by Lucy Robinson View Post

    Hi, I'm new to this forum so apologise if I'm asking this in the wrong place.

    We've recently launched a new comparison website that allows people to filter and search for products via things like price, ingredients, weight etc. The site's gaining a great deal of momentum on Facebook but today that hasn't translated into sales from our site yet.

    The problem is that we have a very limited budget and didn't know the best way of marketing this. We have a mailing list of just over 3000 email addresses but having looking into email marketing this would cost nearly £2k with MailChimp so at the moment can't use that.

    What's the best way of getting our site out there so that people are aware of us?

    Thanks in advance for any help.
    You could try to use Social media platforms, and make it over there great! Try Facebook, Twitter, etc...
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  • Profile picture of the author Judey
    You can get more quality traffic to your website with paid ads.
    But first you should get a course on how to properly run ads unless you'll be wasting lots of money.
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  • Profile picture of the author nkjackson
    I have about 6000 contacts in aweber and it is $69 / month for me. Mailchimp seems extremely expensive.

    You can always upload your contacts to Facebook and run ads directly to them. You can also use your contact list to create lookalike audiences of people similar to your contacts and run ads to them on facebook as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lucy Robinson
      Originally Posted by nkjackson View Post

      I have about 6000 contacts in aweber and it is $69 / month for me. Mailchimp seems extremely expensive.

      You can always upload your contacts to Facebook and run ads directly to them. You can also use your contact list to create lookalike audiences of people similar to your contacts and run ads to them on facebook as well.
      Thanks I didn't realise I could upload contacts to FB, I'll give it a go - don't suppose you know how to upload contacts do you?
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  • Profile picture of the author IGotMine
    My mailing list didn't come from Facebook it's a list of contacts I made that I think may be interested in the site.
    So, it's a compiled list of people who have no knowledge of you or your offer.

    Good luck with that.
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  • Profile picture of the author salsym
    Originally Posted by Lucy Robinson View Post

    Hi, I'm new to this forum so apologise if I'm asking this in the wrong place.

    We've recently launched a new comparison website that allows people to filter and search for products via things like price, ingredients, weight etc. The site's gaining a great deal of momentum on Facebook but today that hasn't translated into sales from our site yet.

    The problem is that we have a very limited budget and didn't know the best way of marketing this. We have a mailing list of just over 3000 email addresses but having looking into email marketing this would cost nearly £2k with MailChimp so at the moment can't use that.

    What's the best way of getting our site out there so that people are aware of us?

    Thanks in advance for any help.
    You stated that your site is a comparison site. What is your business model for generating revenue? Are you trying to do affiliate marketing? If yes, I am surprised why you are not making money with the kind of data you have mentioned (3000 email list etc.). I think you should check the quality of your email list..
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  • Profile picture of the author writeaway
    Why not set up your results so that those who are happy with the results they get can 'pull' others they know to use your platform?
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  • Profile picture of the author cearionmarie
    Since you are selling items, why not try doing influencer marketing? You can have an influencer help you out in exchange for any items you have.
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    Cearion Uy - Marketing Advisor
    www.influencerauditor.com

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