Starting a business is a really exciting venture, but simply starting one and doing work doesn’t mean that your business will be a success. For a successful ad marketing campaign, you need to put in a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Marketing for startups is a particular beast to tame as well, and traditional techniques might not always work for such a small enterprise with tight resource and budget restrictions.
Take a look at some of the steps that you can take to make sure that your business gets the attention that it deserves.
First of all, you need to know what makes your business unique and what the goals of your marketing strategy are.
Your Target Customer
Lots of businesses get overzealous when it comes to their target customer – they think everyone is their target customer. Think of your marketing like an arrow, you simply cannot fire enough arrows to hit everyone, but if you focus on the bull’s-eye, you’re more likely to hit it. In the same way, narrowing down your target customer will mean that you will reach them more efficiently, making better use of your limited resources.
Consistency
As a startup business it can be quite hard to nail down a brand, a logo and a look, but you need to take the development process seriously and then stick to your choices. Once you have done this, the look of your logo, font type and size and imagery should be consistent in all communication, from business cards to adverts.
Build Connections
Connections are really important when it comes to starting a business – there is truth in the old adage that it’s who you know not what you know. Choose an established business that you know and love, and offer complimentary services and see if you can set up a partnership where you refer customers to each other.
Join networking events too – being sure to choose them very carefully so they match your marketing goals.
Use Social Media
Social media is one of the best ways to get noticed, but it is a fine line to tread. Post consistently, and engage your customers. Don’t promote your own services; instead post interesting and shareable articles and information to do with your industry.
Create Branded Content
A great way to market your company is to create content. Again, don’t be promotional, and create content that is thought-provoking, informational and aligns your business with current themes in your industry.
Apply for Business Awards
Business awards give your company legitimacy and mean that customers are more likely to engage with your business, because you’ve been recognised by a third party.
There will be local business awards in your city or area, as well as regional and national business awards. It usually requires a sum upfront to enter the awards, but it is well worth the investment if you win.
Don’t Neglect Traditional Marketing
Online marketing is easier and cheaper than traditional marketing, but that doesn’t mean that you should forget about it altogether. Some traditional marketing, such as print banner ads from Aura Print, can come in useful for a long time to come – especially if you are going to be regularly exhibiting at trade shows. Adverts in newspapers and leaflet drops can be good for raising brand awareness if not direct sales. Make sure to offer your readers an offer to make the most of it.
