As a startup, you’ll need to turn the audience’s attention to your business. Most startups find this to be a problem as they don’t have the possibility to spend a lot of money on marketing. This initial challenge can seem like a tough one, but it’s not all about who can spend the most. You just need to think outside the box and get creative.
With limited funds, you might think that there aren’t many choices for you in the world of marketing. That’s not true. There are different ways in which you can spread the word about your newfound company and attract customers. Here are the top tips that will help you form a marketing campaign on a budget.
1. Build Your Online Presence
Since you don’t have many clients that can serve as leverage, you need to build your online presence. People resort to the internet when they want to check out a business. If potential clients type in your startup’s name and nothing relevant comes up, they will immediately give up on you.
What you should do to build an online presence is:
● Create a high-quality, attractive website
● Create a Google business page and encourage clients to leave reviews
● Sign up on LinkedIn and add relevant information about your startup
The website is somewhat as an ID card for your business. According to research, 57% of internet users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed website. That is why you need a modern website with great content and responsive design.
2. Use Social Media Marketing
Promoting your business on social media can be one of the least expensive marketing approaches. Social media marketing has become essential in every industry. Therefore, it is both a necessity and an inexpensive way to spread awareness about your startup.
You should have a profile on different social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Make sure that you create a profile as a business page. In that way, you can reap the benefits of business accounts.
Paid ads on social media aren’t as expensive as influencer marketing. On Instagram, a paid ad can cost you between 20 cents and $2 per click (CPC). You can also run the ad on a cost per mille (CPM) basis. Such a campaign can cost you on average $5 per 1,000 visitors.
3. Publish Interesting Posts
What will attract the users to your business are fun and authentic posts. Interesting posts can evoke empathy in potential customers or go viral. Either way, you will make a lasting impression on users.
For example, you can post about your team members on social media. Include their picture alongside a humorous or engaging story. Getting personal will allow users to get to know people who stand behind your brand. This method humanizes the brand and helps a company to build a relationship with their customers.
Any type of engaging content that resonates with your audience can work in your favor. Videos are very popular nowadays so creating video content can be huge a plus.
4. Run a Blog
Blogging can be a great addition to your marketing campaign. Blog posts can attract users who are looking for information on your website. Once they’ll finish with the posts, the chances are that they’ll browse through the website and get to know your business.
What’s crucial is that you write about topics that are related to your niche. For example, if you sell vitamin supplements, write about a healthy lifestyle. With blogging, you will drive organic traffic to your blog, get a chance to rank better on search results, and attract user’s attention to your startup.
For surfacing more intriguing topics you can even resort to international websites. Use translation services like Pick Writers to translate some foreign blog posts from credible sources. Use the information you gather to provide better insight into the topic.
Blogging also builds your credibility. Studies show that 81% of U.S. customers trust advice and information from blogs. When customers consider your posts to be trustworthy, they will feel more comfortable about purchasing your products.
5. Have a Branding Consistency
If you want your startup to be recognizable, you need to keep a consistent branding style across different channels. What makes a permanent mark in users’ minds is when a brand stands out. An authentic and specific style will help you with that.
There is more to branding that creating a logo and your brand message. Consistency is a key element that establishes a brand.
Keep the same style, tone, voice, fonts, language, colors on every channel. This applies to your website, social media, blog posts, and so on. Get creative and turn your business into a recognizable brand.
6. Activate Your Connections
If you’re good at networking, this can be your shot. Get in touch with people who can help you to spread the news about your business. Leverage your connections and get access to resources that you otherwise might not be able to attain. Both personal and professional connections can be a great advantage.
Let’s say that your boss at the previous firm has a long-lasting connection with an influential blogger. If you parted way in good turns, ask him if he would be kind enough to connect you with the blogger. One powerful post can do a lot for a startup company.
Word-of-mouth travels a long way. Tell your friends, family, and even acquaintances about your business and they might know someone who needs your services. Just don’t be too aggressive but have a more friendly and suggestive attitude.
7. Start a Contest
A contest gets people excited because they have a chance to win something for free. On the other hand, the contest is an effective marketing tactic. Besides attracting the attention of customers to your startup, you can also collect lots of user-generated content.
The prize of the contest can be your product or anything that you find interesting enough for your target audience. The best platform for contests is social media. Social media gives you access to a wide audience which is why it is most suitable for this.
Some Final Thoughts
When you are just entering the business world, it can be difficult to move the spotlight from well-known companies to your business. However, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have a chance. You simply have to employ a good marketing strategy that doesn’t demand a huge budget.
With these tips, you’ll be able to spread brand awareness, drive traffic to your website, and win over potential customers. Remember that resourcefulness and determination can take you a long way.
Donald Fomby is an experienced and professional writer, blogger, and content marketer with years of experience in the writing and marketing fields. He has written custom content for various websites and has worked in various marketing efforts and campaigns. Donald has conducted content marketing campaigns in various areas or fields with outstanding success. He is also a regular writer at LiveInspiredMag and has a social media presence.
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