Running a small business is no easy feat—especially when you’re trying to grow your brand without burning through your budget.

With limited resources, you’ve got to be smart, efficient, and creative when it comes to marketing. The good news? You don’t need a massive ad spend to get real results. In fact, some of the most effective strategies are low-cost—or even free.

Here are 7 affordable marketing strategies that can help your small business standout, attract more customers, and boost sales—especially when paired with a smart POS system like Orderna.

 7 Affordable Marketing Strategies

1. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile

If your business isn’t on Google, it’s basically invisible.

Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile is one of the easiest (and free!) ways to increase your visibility in local search results. Add your address, opening hours, contact info, website, and quality photos to make it easy for people to find you—and trust you.

Make sure to keep your listing up to date and encourage happy customers to leave reviews. Not only does this build trust, but it can also directly influence foot traffic and orders.

2. Use Social Media Consistently

You don’t have to be everywhere—but you should definitely be somewhere.

Pick one or two platforms where your audience hangs out most (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.) and post consistently. Showcase your products, share behind-the-scenes content, post customer testimonials, or highlight daily specials.

Don’t just post and ghost—engage with your followers, reply to comments, and jump on relevant trends to stay fresh in people’s minds.

3. Create and Grow an Email List

Email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to drive repeat business.

Start building your list by collecting customer emails through your POS system (like Orderna) or a sign-up form on your website or social channels. Then, send regular updates—like promos, new menu items, or event invites.

Pro tip: Add a simple reward like a discount or freebie for signing up.

4. Run Promotions and Limited-Time Offers

People love a good deal—especially when it’s exclusive or time-limited.

Use limited-time offers, flash sales, or loyalty rewards to create urgency and boost transactions. With Orderna, you can easily track which promos perform best and automate discounts at checkout, making the process seamless for both staff and customers.

5. Partner With Other Local Businesses

Collaborations can goa long way—especially with other small businesses in your area.

Team up with a near by café, salon, or boutique to cross-promote each other’s services or run a joint campaign. This expands your reach and gives your audience something fresh and exciting to talk about.

You can even use your POS system to issue partner coupons or track referrals.

6. Encourage User-Generated Content

Your customers are your best brand ambassadors.

Encourage them to tag your business in their posts, stories, or reviews. You can repost their content(with permission), run hashtag challenges, or create an “Instagrammable” spot in your store to encourage photo ops.

This not only creates social proof but also builds a community around your brand.

7. Leverage Data From Your POS System

A smart POS system isn’t just for processing orders—it’s a powerful marketing tool.

With Orderna,you can access real-time data on your top-selling items, busiest hours, andmost loyal customers. This allows you to tailor your offers, tweak your menu,and run targeted campaigns based on actual behavior—not guesses.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a massive marketing budget to grow your small business—you just need the right tools and strategies.

With a bit of creativity, consistency, and help from Orderna’s POS system, you can attract new customers, keep them coming back, and grow sustainably.

Ready to power up our business with smarter tools? Learn more about what Orderna can do for you.