4 Ways You Should Be Marketing Your Start-Up

When you launch your start-up business there is a lot on your plate. Start-ups are notorious for running with skeleton staff, trying to keep their overheads as low as possible, and as the owner, you’ll likely need to wear a few different hats – stepping into various roles as needed. And while much of your attention will be on operations and finances, you can’t have a successful business without a customer base. This is why marketing needs to be a top priority for any start-up.

But what marketing techniques should you use? Which will provide you with the most bang for your buck and help to increase brand awareness and sales? Here are four ways you should be marketing your start-up, regardless of the industry it’s in.

Embrace Social Networks to the Fullest Extent

For businesses that are taking a lean approach to their marketing budget and truly want the best return on investment, nothing compares to the benefits of using social networks. Even if you’ve got a healthy marketing budget with money to spare, this is an area you should be focused on.

The fact is that just about every adult has a smart device and you can bet they are spending a fair amount of time browsing their social networks daily. This is your chance to get the company in front of a large audience, build brand awareness, create excitement and buzz, connect with people and get your business trending.

And while it’s great to embrace this marketing technique and feel excited about the results it will provide, you must be present online consistently and post the kind of content that appeals to people. This means engaging, fun, exciting and informative content that relates to your company.

A Sub-Par Website Won’t Cut It

If you’re under the impression that you can throw together a basic website that will be “good enough” and will garner the results you’re after, it’s time to think again. People want and expect more from websites nowadays.

When they land on a page you have just seconds to capture their attention and prove it’s worth the visit. If you lose them, you’ll have a very difficult time convincing them to return to your site. Keep the saying “you only get one time to make a first impression” at the front in your mind as you create the site.

Tips to use when designing the company’s website include the following:

1. Pages need to be streamlined, clean and uncluttered
2. The font needs to be easy to read (make sure it’s not too small or light in colour)
3. Navigation must be smooth and simple
4. Drop-down menus should be provided
5. A search tool for the site should be present
6. Contact Us information/link should be on every page
7. Site must be optimised for mobile use
8. Text should be broken up with pictures, graphs, videos and product photos
9. Links to your social networks should be provided

These are the basics that any website needs to have, but you can and should expand further on these.

Starting a Blog Can Create a Sense of Authority

Here’s a tip that blends perfectly with using the company’s social networks and website. Starting a blog is a great way to make a name for yourself in the business, create a sense of brand authority and start setting yourself apart from the competition. Blogs should be posted regularly, which means it’s wise to have a content calendar in place so it stays organised.

Another marketing technique is to invite guest bloggers to contribute to your site. They can be industry experts and those in the know.

Use Your Vehicle to Help Advertise

While digital marketing techniques tend to bring in some very positive results, that’s not to say the more traditional form of marketing should be ignored. If the goal is to increase brand awareness, then you want to create as much exposure as possible.

If you own a vehicle then you’ve got an opportunity to increase brand awareness in a very simple way. Vehicle branding can be an effective tool and one that businesses often under-utilise. Graphics are applied to your car and are used to promote the brand, a product or anything else. It’s also perfect for companies that have a fleet of vehicles.

Start Getting Real Results

All of these marketing techniques will work to capture the attention of potential customers and clients, build brand awareness in your community and the industry and help you to reach the goals you have put in place for your start-up.