Starting a new business is quite an undertaking, from putting down the foundations to learning whatever you can about the entrepreneurial game. It has its risk and rewards, which is why a lot of people are afraid of it but also look up to it. In this day and age when startups seem to pop up everywhere, it seems like there’s an entrepreneurial boom going on at an unprecedented rate. With technology and the Internet having made a lot of processes much easier and more accessible, it seems that just about anyone can jump into the pool.
But the one thing most people don’t understand is that having a business requires a certain set of skills and an understanding of the underlying dynamics that can be the difference between success and failure. It’s not bad to fail (unless you’ve put your life savings into it, which is not recommended at all), but it would be nice to come out of it at least with something to show for it. This is where strategy comes in, and a big part of that is the right kind of marketing.
Marketing strategies are not the magic bullets that a lot of people seem to view them as, but having the best set of long-term approaches does help a great deal. With the recent upsurge in successful startups becoming the new standard, there have been new marketing strategies that have come to the forefront that many wish to emulate.
A solid marketing strategy must consist of various proven tactics in order to do well. The following below are some of the most fundamental ones that you should consider for your business.
Don’t Stay in the Dark for Too Long
When you’re starting out with your business, you’d want to make sure that you have everything laid out and running before you ever go public with it. You may even want to run it at a small scale for a while to learn the ropes. While you’re still “in the dark”, you can get comfortable and have a feel for the business and whatever happens from day to day. It can get tempting to stay there and not want to come out of it.
Take note that if operating on a small scale is alright with you and you’re earning more than enough, then it’s fine since you should be able to choose for yourself and yourself alone. But if you’re up for something more, then you may need to overcome that temptation and come out to the light. Marketing is like wanting to be acknowledged for your existence and merits, so you’d want to show your business’ best image once you do decide to come out of it.
Strong Brand Identity
Getting your brand all sorted out is something you may not want to skimp on. You would definitely want to have a brand that looks good, can stand on its own, and is easily recognized by people. In order to have that, someone has to design it for the business if you happen to not have the skills necessary for making one. In that regard, it may be a bit challenging.
If you happen to have the budget, then you should hire a graphic designer who is well versed in designing logos and such for brands. Do know what to look for so that you don’t give the designer bad and/or vague instructions on what you want. What you need is a solid logo that’s not overcomplicated and represents your business well, a color selection that you can consistently go with, and a smart choice of typography. Having all these three pretty much covers the basics. You might also think about creating customized business cards, and if you need help, you can just check on Youprint or Vistaprint to know how it’s done.
Once you do have one, use it on pretty much everything without making it annoying. Be consistent with your application of your brand since that’s pretty much the bulk of your marketing work. When people see that brand, they can get curious about your business and seek it out if you happen to have what they’re looking for. That’s the basic lowdown of how it works, so you should always keep that in mind. Build a website, and give a big emphasis on your brand online, ‘cause you do not always rely on offline promotion to attract your target market.
Focusing on a Niche Through Social Media
This is pretty much the golden rule that you may see in just about any list of new marketing strategies for small businesses. The use of social media and other online platforms has made it easier for small business owners to put in the work and get results, but it’s also easy to become complacent because of the thought that since the technology is present, there shouldn’t be any worries. However, not acting on the need to market as soon as you can may find you coming up short.
It’s not just about having a social media page for your business and expect to have people follow it, but also engaging with that audience. Being able to interact and listen is a boon for all kinds of businesses, so it’s best to take advantage of that accessibility to customers and constant feedback.
With that, you can focus solely on your target market and give your customers value instead of wasting time and “shotgunning” your approach, which most likely may not be that effective. Through this, you pretty much have no excuse for not paying attention to your customers.
Marketing First, Product Second
It’s not to say that products are bad since they’re most likely your source of income, after all. However, you should be able to sell the idea of having that stuff in your business or you might as well pack it up. Buying tons of product only to find out that not a lot of people actually want it is quite a bad feeling, as if your efforts were all in vain.
That part of the process is all about gauging interest so you can decide to put more into that product or service. Thinking about it carefully before pulling anything off is something you should always consider, no matter what the scenario is, even if things are looking really good.
All of these combined and more of the right things can yield desired results. The result of employing an effective marketing strategy is obvious—more customers and more public awareness about your business. If you’re new to the whole thing, then you have to slowly get used to the dynamics of marketing your business to an audience.
Images: ”Marketing Strategy Branding Commercial Advertisement Plan Concept /Shutterstock.com“
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