Forget fancy jargon and expensive campaigns. Let's talk about real marketing for startups.
The challenge?
Grabbing attention in a world with a shorter attention span than a goldfish.
The solution?
Become a magnet. Attract customers with valuable content, build relationships, and leverage the power of your community.
Here are 6 marketing strategies for startups that have withstood the test of time and have become even more relevant in 2024:
1. Educate and establish credibility
People buy from those they trust. I cannot stress this enough. Share your expertise amply! Craft informative content that solves your target customer's problems and positions you as the go-to authority. If you know anything about authority, then let me tell you that, as the name suggests, the more authority you command for the sector you are operating in, the more sway you are going to have over the audience of that sector. Which, of course, means that the audience is going to come right to your doorstep. Want to learn more about using educational content in your marketing strategy? Click here.
2. Build Your Community
Don't just broadcast; connect! Foster a community around your brand. A Facebook group, a forum, or even a private chat—create a space where your audience can connect, learn, and feel valued. If you don’t know where or how to start networking, then just start by sending meaningful and well-written connection requests on LinkedIn. Target people who could add value to your business or could help guide you through your endeavours. Just don’t be shy! Dive deeper into the process of building a community for your brand by clicking here.
3. Gamify Engagement
People love a good game! If you don’t believe then you can google and check the CAGR of the gaming industry (it’s 28% by the way). This should tell you just how much people enjoy a good game and the rewards associated with it. Host contests and giveaways to boost engagement. Think quizzes, trivia, or even talent shows – get creative and tailor them to your brand. Just don’t let your audience get bored (don’t get desperate as well). Get an in-depth guide to gamifying engagement here.
4. Entertain (Smartly)
Humor is powerful but use it wisely. A funny video might work for a clothing brand, but a B2B company doing keg stands? Not so much. Align your entertainment with your brand's identity. Divide your content buckets intelligently and fill them according to your business’s vision and goals only. While creativity has no limits, it does not always gel well with the branding goals that your company ought to pursue. It is always first to identify your brand’s archetype before coming up with a content strategy and plan. To understand the content planning & strategy process in detail, click here.
5. Utilize Referrals & Testimonials
Your happy customers are your biggest asset. Don't be shy; ask them to spread the word. A referral from a trusted source is way more precious than a pound of gold. No, it’s not an exaggeration to say that businesses that have positive testimonials are likely to have their customers spend 31% more on their products or services, according to Spectoos. But like always, there is a catch to it. According to BigCommerce, 88% of consumers are willing to trust online recommendations as much as personal recommendations. Isn’t that fascinating? Well, it is, but only if you understand the simple fact that just displaying your positive testimonials on your own website is not enough. You have to get good reviews on other platforms like Google Reviews, which are open to both positive and negative reviews. Then analyze and incentivize people who have positive things to say about you to join your referral program and spread the word about your business.
Bonus Tip: Fix Your Foundation First
Marketing is like an F1 car. Before you launch, make sure your business model is in order. Patch any leaks—low margins, slow payments, or inconsistent sales—because a leaky machine is a disaster waiting to happen.
The Takeaway
These aren't fancy tricks – they're foundational principles. Educate, engage, entertain strategically, leverage your network, and build genuine relationships.
This is how you build a marketing strategy that works. So what are you waiting for? Start your journey as an entrepreneur today!
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