Startups or small businesses often lean heavily on sales in their early stages. Those that do gain a deep understanding of the problems they solve and can communicate them effectively to customers. This approach definitely builds a strong foundation for any company. However, many startups miss so many opportunties by not leveraging digital marketing sooner.
Here are some essential digital marketing tactics that every startup must use to get the most out of their early stages.
A Polished Website Goes a Long Way
The phrase “fake it until you make it” is quite literal for startups. You don’t have the luxury of time, resources, or extensive experience to win over every prospect. The last thing you want after a great sales call is to lose that sale because a potential customer visited your website (only to ghost you afterwards).
Many startups overlook the importance of a well-designed website, eventually becoming a hidden weakness. Remember, potential buyers are researching you just as much as you’re researching them. Customers want to know that purchasing your products/services will solve their problems and deliver a strong return. Investors want to know you’re the real deal.
Therefore, your website must instill confidence, clearly communicate your value, and support the sales conversations you’re having.
Write Content That Addresses Customer Pain Points
Writing content is a habit that can feel daunting at first. You may struggle with writer’s block, competing priorities, or simply not knowing where to start. The best approach? Dedicated time each day on your calendar to write. Start small, then gradually increase your commitment.
So why is writing so beneficial?
- Search Engine Optimization Boost (SEO): Publishing valuable content improves your website’s ranking on search engines, helping attract organic traffic. The more high-quality content you create, the more likely customers are to find you, reducing your reliance on cold outreach, such as email and phone. Additionally, if you’re thinking of using paid media down the road, SEO will reduce your overall spending amount for it.
- Deeper Subject Matter Expertise: Writing forces you to articulate and analyze your customers’ pain points in greater detail. These insights can enhance your sales conversations, website messaging, and overall marketing strategy. Writing is better for business and startups.
- Better Business: As you write, you’ll refine how you explain your business. You’ll uncover clearer, more compelling ways to communicate your value proposition. You may even redefine your unique selling point (USP), improving your competitive advantage.
Writing is a powerful tool to strengthen both your digital presence and sales effectiveness. Start today or get expert help from a digital partner like Uplancer!
Establish a Strong Social Media Presence
When done right, social media builds network effect, expanding your brand’s reach and increasing engagement. If you’re unfamiliar with network effect, below is a brief explanation:
- You share your post with the people within your social network (Network A).
- When people from Network A interact with your post, their network (Network B) sees the interaction and your post.
- When people from Network B interact with your post, their network (Network C) sees the interaction and your post.
- Repeat this with Network C and so on, resulting in a massive influx of impressions.
- Eventually, your post attracts a lead.
Not every post will work successfully this way, but your goal is to generate posts that get reactions.
Beyond getting leads, social media gives customers and investors a behind-the-scenes look at your business. They want to confirm that your business is active. They also want to feel confident in engaging with a real brand, and consistent social content reinforces that trust.
Build a Solid Foundation with a “Crawl” Approach
Effective digital marketing is common sense and follows a crawl, walk, and run approach – start small and prove that something works before doing more. For startups, a Minimum Effective Marketing (MEM) is the way to go:
- A well-designed website showcasing your business’s core strengths
- A sales-driven approach focused on understanding and addressing customer pain points
- An active social media presence that signals ambition and growth
The Bottom Line
Startups must look and act the part. Investors, customers, and competitors need to see that your business is legitimate and growing. Establishing a solid digital foundation with a crawl approach will set your startup up for long-term success.
Ready to take your startup’s digital marketing to the next level? Build your crawl solution with an Uplancer MEM today!
