7 Marketing Tips For Startup Companies

If your startup company has great ideas, products and service, but isn’t seeing the results you expect, serial entrepreneur Drew Williams says the problem almost always relates to poor marketing. A start up company is usually born by someone who is driven, smart, and wildly creative, but not necessarily a marketing expert. Still, a great product will only go so far without equally great marketing. To get your company up and running, here are 7 top marketing tips for start up companies.

1. Ask Your Customer What They Think Of Your Product

Releasing your product on the market without first asking people what they think of it is a huge mistake. Once you put a lot of effort into creating something it’s almost scary to ask someone what they think, because if they say they don’t like it, well then what?

Starting from the earliest stages of product development, start asking your target audience what they think of an idea. People will naturally offer you their own ideas on how you can improve it, and this might be some of the most valuable free advice you ever get. After all, the only way your product is going to make it is if your target audience loves it.

People are more helpful than you might think. Many will happily try out a new product and then provide you with real, honest feedback. This makes the release of your product far less stressful because you already know what the public thinks of it. Plus, anything people report negatively about can be fixed to offer a better user experience prior to its public release.

2. Make Sure You Show Up When Searched On The Internet

When you first release a product out into the world people are going to Google you, curious about who you are and what you stand for. It’s not a good sign if people find nothing when they search your name or product. It is a good thing if they instantly come across your website, links to your articles, and/or your social media profile.

The later option allows them an instant way to get more familiar with you and even become a fan. If someone can’t find you the first time, chances are they may never to try and look again.

3. Use Social Media To Identify & Befriend Your Target Audience

Social media is a great tool to identify your target audience and then actively seek to make them customers. With endless social media profiles to search through it shouldn’t take much time to find 50 unique people that would love your product or service. Follow these people, introduce yourself, and offer them free products in exchange for an online review or feedback in a private message.

Don’t wait until after your product release to get on social media. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter all make great platforms for finding customers and building up a following prior to your product release.

4. Create Realistic Goals

Not meeting goals can get company morale down quickly, that’s why your goals should always be attainable and relate directly to the action you are currently taking to market your product. If results end up better than expected you can always raise your goals, besides surpassing goals feels great!

5. Don’t Wait To Start Marketing Until Post Product Release

Don’t wait too long to start your marketing efforts. Many start up companies try and make some money first before they spend money marketing, but according to marketing experts this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make.

It takes a good amount of time to see the results of a marketing campaign, and so the earlier you start the better. If people already know about your product before it is available there will be a natural buzz surrounding it, and more sales on the first day of its release. Instant sales also guarantee instant feedback, so if there are hiccups with a product they can be identified and solved right away.

6. Focus On Customer Experience Prior To Product Release

As a new company you have a lot to prove, and a lot at stake if you don’t. The usability of your website, product, and customer support is HUGE.

If customers have a bad experience with any aspect of your product or services they will be more likely to go elsewhere next time. Oppositely, if they have a great user experience, they will be more likely to return in the future.

One way user experience can quickly fly out the window is if you become too busy right form the get-go and are unable to properly and timely respond to costumers and fulfill orders. Or, if your website is chalked up with design and coding errors that make it difficult for users to make a purchase or contact you.

You don’t want PR problems when your business first opens its doors, thinking ahead and not just focusing on the product alone will help you to avoid bad press.

7. Earn Yourself Some Media Exposure

Get creative and find an interesting angle on your business story, something that would reach out to the public and touch the community in a worthwhile way. If you don’t have a story ready to go, do something good for your community and make a story out of it. Then, find the appropriate news outlets and bloggers to share it with. As a result you create a natural media buzz that helps boost your business from the get-go. (Read more)

How To Handle The Steep Competition

There are 472 million entrepreneurs living in the world, with 100 million new startups opening shop every year. In other words, the competition out there is steeper than ever. Only 30 startups in the US, Europe and China combined are now valued at over $1 billion dollars. It’s not easy to make it out there, but with the right help you have more than a fighting chance.