When launching your startup, you may not have marketing as one of your top priorities. However, effective marketing strategies are essential for establishing and growing any business, no matter the size.
Startups will without a doubt have smaller budgets than large international enterprises, but that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on your results. Thus, here are seven marketing strategies you could effectively utilise for your startup.
1. Out of home (OOH) advertising
You might think OOH advertising - such as billboards, motorway advertising, signs in shopping centres, and posters on the sides of buses, bus stops, and telephone boxes - might be out of your budget. However, OOH advertising can be very cost effective.
This is especially the case when you opt for OOH advertising services that specialise in startups and companies that are new to OOH advertising, such as Clear Start . They will assist you in coming up with the optimum OOH strategy within your budgetary constraints.
2. Flyers
Flyering is a very simple yet effective marketing strategy . Design and print fliers that advertise your brand, products, or services, and post them through the letterboxes of homes in your community. To give extra motivation , you can also include a coupon or an offer that only flyer-holders can claim.
3. Business to business (B2B)
We all know the effectiveness of your customers recommending you to their friends and family, but you can also create a referral network with other businesses . Make links with other local businesses, especially startups, and come to an agreement where you both refer customers to one another, protecting each other’s professional assets.
4. Posters
Put posters up in local businesses, such as your neighbourhood shop, cafe, and so on. Most businesses will have a bulletin board for this purpose, so don’t hesitate to take advantage.
5. Ask for customer feedback
In addition to wanting to gain new business, it is important to ensure that you also focus on retaining your existing customers. One way you can do this is by asking for asking for customer feedback after a purchase .
Find out how the customer came across your business - was it because of advertising or referral? - and how they found the service. You can then use the data that you collect to improve your next marketing campaign and increase customer satisfaction.
6. Social media
Social media is free to use and allows you to develop a report with your target audience, as well as provide extended customer service . In the modern era, every business must have a social media presence to be visible. Once social media is established, you can use these accounts to promote and advertise your business.
7. Search engine optimisation (SEO)
Search engine optimisation increases your positioning on Google results pages for related searches. Research the keywords and phrases your audience uses to find brands such as yours online, and include them in your unique, engaging content, be it your website copy or more long-form blogs.
So, there you have it! 7 cost-effective and budget-friendly marketing strategies that you could effectively utilise for any business, no matter how small or recently established.
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