Getting a new business off the ground? It’s an incredible ride, right? But let’s be honest, figuring out the marketing side can feel like a whole different beast, especially for startups. You’re likely juggling tight budgets, limited time, and maybe a small team compared to the big players. That means every marketing move needs to count – you have to be smart about where you put your energy and resources. So, how do you make those smart choices? We’ve put together six key digital marketing strategies designed specifically with startups like yours in mind.
1. Really Get to Know Your People (Your Target Audience)
With those limited resources we mentioned, you simply can’t afford to spray your marketing budget everywhere and hope for the best. Trying to reach everyone on every single platform just isn’t feasible, or smart. The first crucial step? Really digging into who your ideal customers are and where they spend their time online. What makes them tick? How do they behave digitally?
Figure this out, and then zero in on the two or three platforms where they’re most active and engaged. For instance, if you’re running a B2B startup selling software, chances are your key audience spends a lot of time on LinkedIn, maybe specific industry forums, or reading certain trade publications online. Knowing this lets you concentrate your efforts and budget where they’ll actually have the most impact, instead of shouting into the void.
2. Focus on ‘Wanting It’ (Desire) More Than Just ‘Knowing It Exists’ (Awareness)
You’ve probably heard of the AIDA model – Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action. It’s a marketing classic for a reason. Getting people aware of your brand and what you offer is obviously important. But here’s the thing: your competitors, especially the established ones, are pouring money into awareness too. It can become a costly battle just to get noticed in all that noise.
As a startup, you can be smarter. Instead of throwing all your energy and budget only into the top of the funnel (Awareness), consider shifting more focus towards the ‘Desire’ stage. This is where potential customers are closer to making a decision – they’re not just aware you exist, they’re actively considering a purchase or taking the next step.
How do you tap into this? Think strategies like targeted email marketing to nurture leads who’ve already shown some interest (like signing up for a newsletter or downloading a guide), or remarketing ads that gently remind website visitors about the cool product they were looking at. Even strategically using Google Ads to capture users actively searching for solutions exactly like yours falls into this category. These approaches connect you with leads who are genuinely closer to buying, often giving you a better return on your efforts.
3. Create Content People Actually Want to Read (and Share)
Don’t underestimate the power of good old-fashioned organic content. Yes, it takes consistent effort, but creating valuable blog posts, insightful videos, helpful guides, or engaging social media updates really pays off in the long run.
Think about it: when you freely share useful information, genuinely help people solve problems related to your industry, or offer educational insights, you’re doing more than just pushing your product. You’re building a community, establishing yourself as a trusted resource, and attracting followers who appreciate what you bring to the table. Over time, many of these engaged followers can become loyal customers. It’s a fantastic way to build brand value and organic awareness without needing a massive ad spend.
4. Let Automation Handle the Follow-Up (Marketing Automation)
Okay, so you’re investing time and maybe money into getting traffic from ads, social media, and your website – great! But are you accidentally letting potential sales slip through the cracks simply because you’re not following up effectively or consistently? Many startups overlook the power of marketing automation to streamline communication.
Imagine this scenario: someone visits your site, adds a product to their cart, but then gets distracted by a phone call and leaves. Instead of losing that potential customer forever, what if an automated email landed in their inbox a few hours later, gently reminding them about their cart, maybe even offering a small incentive to complete the purchase? That’s automation working for you! You can set up these kinds of automated workflows for emails, SMS alerts, push notifications, and more, triggered by specific customer actions (or inaction). It’s not just about recovering potentially lost sales; it’s about providing a smoother, more personalized customer experience and freeing up your time, without you having to manually track every single interaction.
Want Help Automating Your Marketing?
At BoostSpan, we specialize in helping startups like yours implement powerful marketing automation strategies. Our team can help you set up automated email campaigns, SMS notifications, and more. We’ll work with you to identify the best tools and strategies for your specific needs.
Contact BoostSpan today for a free consultation!
5. Your Team = Your Secret Marketing Weapon (Employees as Influencers)
Influencer marketing gets a lot of buzz these days – it’s essentially the digital age’s version of word-of-mouth. But let’s face it, hiring big-name influencers, or even many micro-influencers, might be out of reach financially when you’re just starting out.
So, who are your most authentic and accessible advocates? Look no further than your own team! Your employees know your business inside-out and (hopefully!) believe in what you’re building. Encourage them (never force it!) to share their positive experiences, insights about your company culture, or even how your products or services genuinely help customers, using their own social media channels. This kind of authentic advocacy from real people within the company builds incredible trust and credibility with potential customers – often far more than a paid ad ever could. Think of them as your internal brand ambassadors.
6. The Founder’s Voice Matters (CEO as Thought Leader)
Founders and CEOs, this one’s especially for you. Ever notice how sometimes the person leading a startup becomes almost as well-known, if not more so, than the company itself early on? There’s a huge opportunity here that many founders overlook.
By actively sharing your unique expertise, your vision for the industry, your journey, and insights related to the problems your startup aims to solve, you can build a strong personal brand and reputation as a thought leader. This isn’t just about stroking your ego; it’s incredibly smart marketing. When people start paying attention to you and valuing what you have to say (on LinkedIn, blogs, podcasts, etc.), they naturally become more interested in the brand and the solutions you’re building. Consistently putting out valuable content and building your personal brand can significantly boost your company’s visibility and draw in the right kind of attention and opportunities.
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it – six powerful digital marketing strategies tailored for the unique challenges and exciting opportunities that startups face. Getting crystal clear on your audience, smartly focusing on purchase intent (‘Desire’), creating truly valuable organic content, using automation wisely, empowering your own team, and leveraging the founder’s voice can all work together to drive real, tangible results – boosting those crucial early sales and improving your overall return on investment.
Just remember, marketing isn’t really a ‘set it and forget it’ kind of deal. It’s more like a continuous cycle of trying things out, carefully analyzing what works (and learning from what doesn’t), and tweaking your approach as you go. Stay persistent, be smart and creative with your resources, and you’ll be well on your way to hitting those important business goals.
Ready to take your startup’s digital marketing to the next level?
BoostSpan is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in helping startups grow. Our experienced team can provide you with tailored strategies and expert guidance to achieve your marketing goals.
Visit our website or contact us today to learn more!
