Effective marketing is a crucial survival tool for any start-up or new business, and yet it can be one of the hardest things to achieve. You’ve got a great idea that translates into a great product, but how do you let people know about it? The chances are that much of your small initial budget has gone on creating the business, designing your product, or setting up your store. However, to really get going, you not only need to let people know that you exist, but you also have to convince them that your product or service is the one that they really need to be spending money on.
Go digital
Traditional methods of advertising are slow, cumbersome and expensive. Ads in newspapers and magazines, billboards, TV and radio spots have to be booked and paid for well in advance, while promotional leaflets and flyers tend to take up valuable shop and office space and end up as so much clutter. Digital online promotion, however, can be almost immediate, doesn’t require physical resources beyond a computer and the appropriate software, and is extremely cost-effective. In many cases, it won’t cost you a thing.
Websites and blogging
A high-quality, effective website is essential, and it’s worth spending some money here to make sure that it’s properly designed and hosted. Use SEO techniques and analytics to make sure that your website is among the first entries on sites such as Google when people look for the kind of products or services you offer. At a bare minimum, your website should be clear and easy to navigate, and should give people all the basic information they require to engage with your business. Ideally, it should include unique content that is useful to your customers.
Blogging is a great way to include interesting and helpful content on your website. A regularly updated blog will keep people coming back, will make them more aware of your brand, and will increase the likelihood of them spending money with you. You can also buy guest blog posts on other relevant sites in order to broaden your reach and spread awareness of your brand.
Build up a mailing list
Email marketing is one of the most effective forms of marketing in terms of delivering a measurable return on investment (ROI). Have a contact form on your website and encourage people to get in touch, or just sign up to receive news and exclusive offers. Don’t spam your mailing list, but send regular informative newsletters that create a sense of community and excitement around your brand.
Use social media
This is another space where your aim should be to build a community around your product or service. Choose the two or three channels of socia media where your customers are most likely to be found and start talking to them. You can do loads of effective social media promotion for free, but paid boosts and advertising are also effective. These can be closely targeted according to demographic and similar interests.
The internet is an amazing resource for new businesses if used in the right way. The internet gives you a way of reaching the whole world and showing them what you can do.
Content written by Austin K a outreach experts at Megri Outreach
