If an idea is as good as its execution, a product is as good as you can sell it. So many startups, with promising potential, fail just because they didn’t focus enough on sales, distribution, and marketing. Startups are always advised to use the lean model, but we must not be very conservative when it comes to marketing spending. This can very well hurt the business more than it can help.
Some startups think that if you grow your business with zero marketing spend, you’ll appeal more to investors. Truth is, to many investors it translates to “I did not master my game yet.” Below is a recommended list of six marketing techniques each startup needs to consider and maybe test at least once before they reject them. Some people will agree to test them all, and others might even add a few more techniques to the list.
1. Public Relations
It’s the art of leveraging traditional media as well as forming good relationships with reporters, journalists, and influencers to get your name out there.
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
When people use search engines, such as Google, your website should pop-up first. You constantly improve your SEO, making sure that your company website shows up on top. Hire a reputable seo company to help you out with a strategy. There is no harm in getting some assistance from people who know what they are talking about. This way, you can learn a lot along the way. Even if it means checking out sites like outreachpete.com to use services that professional SEO companies offer, at least this shows that you are taking the relevant steps to improve this aspect of your business.
3. Business Development
Create new strategic relations every single day you’re breathing. These relationships should be built on mutual benefit. So structure your deals in a way that benefits both you and your partner.
4. Offline Marketing
Everyone will tell you to stay away. They say it costs a lot of money and it’s hardly measurable. They’re probably right; it does cost a lot of money and it truly is hard to measure. However, your potential customers know as much as you do how expensive a billboard or a magazine ad is. If they see you on a billboard, they’ll automatically put your company in higher regard. It might not work for everyone, but when it works it can do wonders.
5. Email Marketing
The keyword here is personal. This is definitely one of the most, if not the most, personal marketing channel and even more so when you decide to connect HubSpot and Mailchimp, so you can have all your contacts in one place. You address your user by his name and based on his personal preferences. How special does that make them feel?
6. Display Ads
Post your ads on popular websites and for this, you pay for impressions or clicks. You usually identify the interests of your target audience and you post your ads on websites that serve the same audience.