Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
The old ways of business promotion might be efficient, but they are everything but cost-effective. For an established, seasoned company, typical marketing ways such as TV commercials and billboards are just another expense, but for a business that is still in its inception, they are borderline unattainable. Fortunately, the modern world has blessed us with many unique opportunities that can help your startup get advertised properly. Getting your name out there without breaking the buck is more than attainable nowadays, but there’s nothing without invested effort.
Clients are your most important tool
Naturally, you are hugely dependent on your customers – without them, your business wouldn’t even exist, right? One of the biggest mistakes that many businesses tend to make is looking at a business transaction from a narrow point of view – one side receives goods while the other receives payment. In a nutshell, yes, this is the very foundation of business transactions. In truth, there is a lot more to it, or in other words, nothing beats a satisfied customer. The famous word-of-mouth advertising is perhaps the most effective form of marketing. Be careful though, because the good word spreads just as fast as the bad one, so treating your customers like royalty goes without saying. Make sure your deliveries are done on time and don’t be reluctant about actually contacting your customers to check whether or not they’re satisfied with your product/service. You can’t even begin to imagine how effective this is.
There’s nothing without social media
The smartphone has replaced television. How come? Well, look at your own favorite pastime: do you turn the TV on and roll your eyes at commercials, or do you find yourself immersed into the infinite world of social media whenever you take a break from work? The social media ads are, in fact, so efficient that they profile the social media users based on a variety of information inputs in order to advertise your product to the most likely buyer. This is called target advertising, and while it might sound like an invasion of privacy, it’s actually a win-win scenario both for the business and for the customer. The best part: while the TV commercials tend to prompt the viewer to change the channel, the social media ads don’t turn the potential customer away.
Giveaways are an excellent investment
There’s a reason why businesses still rely on the promo material to spread their name around: it’s definitely efficient! If your company’s name turns into a buzzword, you’re famous, and if you’re famous, more people are going to come to your doorstep. The best part about cool promotional products is that they’re customizable and can really turn out useful to your potential customers; the more a particular product is used, the wider your word will spread.
In fact, you can even reward your customers for their loyalty as a future investment.
Networking is the pillar of success
There’s no entrepreneurship without networking, and the best part of networking is outlined in the fact that it’s actually quite simple; you just need to get into the mindset of an extrovert. Expanding your friendships and contacts is probably the best way to spread your name around. Worst case scenario: you won’t meet new people. Best case scenario: who knows? Don’t forget to do your market research first, though, since there is no job well done without doing your homework first.
Thanks to the benefits of the modern world, advertising doesn’t have to be expensive – in fact, it often turns out completely free! The world of television and billboards doesn’t have to be your thing – there are a lot of advertising opportunities out there that are much better choices for a startup. Treat your customers royally, establish solid online presence, don’t be afraid of giving stuff away for free, and always be networking!
