Marketing a Weekend Business the Cheap and Easy Way

Marketing a Weekend Business the Cheap and Easy Way

Small Business Marketing Social Media Support Local

Marketing a Weekend Business the Cheap and Easy Way

Starting a weekend business doesn’t have to break the bank—from crafting a simple pitch to leveraging word-of-mouth and community groups, this guide covers everything you need to grow your weekend gig without spending a dime.

By Selena Houle / May 26, 2022

The whole point of a weekend business is that they are low-cost and doable with the right tools and a certain amount of elbow grease. But what if you want to give your word-of-mouth-based business a little bit of a boost without paying for advertising?

With proper communication, you don’t have to spend a cent.

Step One: Write Your Pitch

An elevator pitch for a weekend business is easier to create than you’d think, and you probably already have one. 

Whether you’re a dog walker, window/siding cleaner, or a part-time landscaper⁠, you need to know what services you will offer, how much it will cost and how you want people to contact you.

It should sound something like this;

Hey, I’m John.

I’ll be offering basic landscaping services (mowing, planting, trimming etc.) all summer.

I provide all my own equipment and I can work around your schedule. My number is (xxx).xxx.xxx

Step Two: Let People Know You're In the Neighborhood

You do not need to start a brand new social media account for your weekend business unless you want to or plan to use it as your primary source of communication.

The whole point is that it should be an easy side project, not another full-time job.

Example Instagram post to advertise your small business.

When it comes to small, local-only businesses, Facebook and Facebook Groups are still one of the best tools to get the word out. Especially if you end up doing work for friends or family.

However, you’ll want to join a few community/neighbourhood groups for the best results. Likely more than one. And, if you’re on a platform like Instagram, mix in a few local-only hashtags like your #city #community #citylife type tags for best results.

You’ll get a much wider net when you post on big social media platforms like Instagram. But it’s important to combine this strategy with other methods when targeting specific local areas. Otherwise, you risk missing out on key demographics that may be less technology inclined.

 

Example small business house cleaning poster template.

Never count out the humble tear-off flyer taped to a mailbox or telephone pole. It only takes a few minutes to whip up a poster template in Canva and print it off.

Technically, you’ll pay money for the ink and paper, but your overhead will still be minimal if you post your flyers strategically.

Suppose you’re a dog walker, post flyers along routes where people take their dogs for walks. If you live in a suburb with a community mailbox, POST A FLYER THERE.

Observing how people shop, where they spend their time, and how they engage with local businesses while you’re out and about is your best friend when building a weekend business.
 
Additionally, if there are free directories or classified sections for your town or community, make sure to seek them out and add your business information. Or consider finding a related business whose customers would benefit from your service.
 
For example, if you’re a contractor, ask a local hardware store if they would be willing to display some of your business cards. Or, if you’re a pet sitter, ask dog groomers and pet shops if they’d be willing to cross-promote.
 
These established services are often seen as helpful authorities. And if you offer a related but distinct service, it can be seen as added value to their customer base, which is always a win-win.

Step Three: Encourage Referrals

Close-knit communities tend to have robust networks where recommendations and referrals play a significant role in growing new businesses. Which is why an emphasis on exceptional customer service and fostering strong relationships with your existing clients is so important.
 
And that’s precisely why you should be asking for referrals.
 
Research suggests that 83% of satisfied customers are willing to refer others, yet only 29% do, probably because they were never asked or it just doesn’t occur to them.
 
So, ALWAYS ask if your customers would be willing to refer you to others.
 
When you’ve done a good job, make sure your happy client has a way to contact you when they need more work done or so they can easily pass your contact info on to friends and neighbours who might want to use your services.
 
Traditionally, this is the purpose of a business card. But you don’t have to design and print fancy ones or even use a business card at all if you don’t want to.
 
A vcard your client can use to add you as a contact, a simple friend request or your information written on a sturdy piece of card stock are all acceptable alternatives when you do good work.
 
If you have your own colour printer and a paper cutter you can also make your own business cards at home with a square piece of cardstock and a generic thank you sticker.
Handwritten business card example.

Asking for referrals doesn’t need to be a big deal, either.

If your customers are okay with it, share some pictures on your social media so people can see the work you do.

A freshly mown lawn, clean windows or a happy dog you walk every week are excellent ways to show the benefits of what you do.

And, if your customers have social media, ask if they’d be willing to make a post and tag you in it.

Step Four: Bundle Your Services

When your business relies on word of mouth, customers will pass along how good of a job you did and how much it costs.

Once you get the hang of the work, it might be worth bundling your services.

A consistent number or way of describing your offer will stick in people’s heads better.

“Ted’s great. He charged me $30/hour for the whole lawn and log removal.”

OR

“Sophie comes by every two weeks to mow and trim the bushes back. I think I pay around $135 per month?”

Will create a specific expectation in people’s heads. It’s an optional step, but it can save you a lot of headaches.

Step Five: Expand Your Definition of "Local" As You Grow

Once you’ve gotten the hang of running your side hustle, there may be times when you’d like to increase your workload. Maybe you want to scale your weekend business eventually, or it’s slow during the off-season.

Either way, this cooldown period is the perfect time to expand your marketing efforts to include neighbouring towns. Especially if you’re a service provider in a small village like Bragg Creek, where things work a little differently due to how small the customer base is.

 

Conclusion

If you have a clear way for people to contact you, do good work and focus on local marketing avenues, a weekend business does not have to be an expensive or time-consuming exercise.

Want to continue growing your weekend business on a budget? Check out more cost-effective marketing ideas here.

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