Spread the Word About Your New Business With These Marketing Tips
Whether you’re launching a SaaS startup or a lifestyle brand, you need a marketing strategy to generate buzz about your products and services. Modern marketing can be tricky, though — many consumers can sense sleazy marketing tactics from a mile away.
If you want to stand out in a crowded market, you need to develop a unique marketing strategy that will speak to your target audience. It’s easier said than done, but here are some marketing ideas you can try for your next startup.
1. Make sure you really understand your target customers
You might think you know your potential customers, but do you truly know what makes them tick?
Targeting specific demographics is certainly useful, but it’s not enough. Aim to get to know your potential customers on a more personal level so you can create marketing campaigns that speak to their emotions.
Do you know what keeps your prospects up at night? Do they all seem to have one problem in common, and can your startup solve it? What makes them feel happy, calm, or excited?
Once you understand the psychology of your target audience, frame your marketing messages accordingly.
2. Determine your unique selling proposition
Also called a USP, your unique selling proposition is what sets your startup apart from the competition.
This is especially important if you plan to offer something that is very similar to what your competitors already sell. To find your USP, ask questions like:
- What specific benefits does your product or service offer?
- What makes your company better than the competition? Do you provide stellar customer service from real humans, for example?
- What are your startup’s biggest strengths?
Essentially, your USP will answer the question, “Why should customers choose us?”
3. Try launching with a beta group first
Launching with a small group of initial customers has several advantages:
- You can test your startup’s offering on a smaller scale. That way, you can tweak things before committing to a full launch.
- When you have a beta group, participants often expect that they’ll be asked for feedback… and they’ll be more than happy to share their thoughts.
- It fosters a sense of exclusivity, because people tend to want what they can’t have.
4. Focus on generating word of mouth for your startup
Word of mouth marketing is one of the most effective ways to grow a brand, because people trust recommendations from people they know.
There are several different ways to generate word of mouth, from providing excellent customer service to asking for referrals outright. Learn more about how this marketing tactic can grow your business here.
5. Get interviewed for a magazine, podcast, or other publication
This last tip ties into the “word of mouth” concept, because people are more likely to trust your brand when they hear about it from a third-party.
Nowadays, there are tons of opportunities for you to get interviewed:
- Podcasts
- Blogs
- Websites
- Magazines, including industry trade magazines
You could start by reaching out to your favorite podcasters, bloggers, and website owners to see if they’re looking for interviewees (suggest an on-brand topic or two that their audience will love for maximum impact.)
You can also let the opportunities come to you by signing up for a service like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) account. This service connects journalists to experts and it makes getting interviews super easy — simply respond to relevant inquiries.
The daily emails can be difficult to keep up with, however. Ideally, you’ll have an assistant who can help you sort through all of the available opportunities.
