Are you facing the challenge of marketing your startup with only a small budget? That can be a daunting task, but we’re here to help you learn how to make good use of the budget you do have. There are some ways to keep costs down, while getting the word out about your company.
Let’s take a look!
Start in a Smaller Niche
Consider starting out in a smaller niche, with a smaller target audience. As you develop the niche, think about keeping things as simple as possible. You could perhaps choose to start out with one product or tool in the beginning.
Keep content and information on the site geared to your target audience and offer the best product possible. Choose something that meets your prospective customers at a major pain point. As your site grows, you can begin to add on more products and services. But in the beginning, start with a smaller niche, with highly focused content and only one product.
Publish Content Focused on Your Target Audience
One great way to get the word out about your company is to keep your site’s content highly focused and publish content on a regular basis. Cover topics that are near and dear to your site visitors and make sure the information is actually helpful, not just fluff. The goal is to provide value.
Once visitors find your site and find valuable information, they’ll share the site with friends and family. Soon, your company will be known to a wider audience. Make sure to use some SEO, too, which also helps to draw in your target audience.
Start Email & Lead Lists
You can’t grow a business without an email and lead list. Set up a landing page or offer opt-ins on your site’s pages. Offer potential email subscribers an incentive to sign up. This could be a free ebook, a PDF that contains valuable information, etc. Just make sure it’s something enticing and offers value to get people to respond to your call to action. This is a great way to create an email and lead lists.
Build an Online Network
Creating a strong online network is also a great way to get the news out about your startup. It’s an excellent free marketing strategy that anyone can use. Don’t hesitate to follow people’s social media networks, comment on posts and remember to share their content. This will garner the attention you need and want.
Use a tool such as Followerwonk to find and connect with influencers in your niche. Look for networks and bloggers who are in your niche by using keywords in the search function. It’s fast and easy, and a great way to get noticed for free.
Create Your Best Content for Subscribers
Back to creating content, make sure to create your best and most helpful content for your email subscribers. You want them to come back for more, so make sure that you add enough information and value to keep them interested and returning to your site.
Consider developing a how-to guide that hits them at a major pain point. Make sure this is something that will help solve their problem and then make the content downloadable, rather than making this a regular blog post.
Make sure your content will make subscribers want to share it with friends and others on their networks. In this way, you’ll provide useful information, all while others spread the good news about your company.
Guest Posting Still Works
Many have said that guest posting is no longer effective in reaching new audiences; however, that’s just not the case. Guest posts are still a great way to reach out and connect with new audiences.
Reach out to other bloggers who are in the same niche and offer to do some guests posts for their site or blog. However, be sure to ask if you can include a link back to your own site. This is important, so site visitors will be able to look you if they enjoyed the piece.
You can also ask fellow bloggers in your niche if they’d like to write guest posts for your site, too. Not only do you both get to reach new audiences, but you help and support each other in the process.
Don’t Let Leads Cool
Leads are valuable and you want to make good use of these. Your best leads will be the list of subscribers you’ve developed. These will be your best customers, so reach out to them when products are updated, or you are offering new products. Be sure to include links and other important information so subscribers can share these with friends, too.
Emails are also a great way to keep your leads “hot” and engaged with your brand. Consider sending emails with questions, polls and provide a way for subscribers to share their opinions and insights with you. Make them feel needed, appreciated and involved and they’ll keep coming back for more.
Use Social Media
Make good use of your social media networks, too, as you get the word out about your startup. However, avoid using every platform you can think of. Not all platforms are good for every company or product.
Look for social media networks that work for your niche. Do a search to see which social media platforms your competitors are using and then set up an account on those networks.
Once you have your accounts set up, begin to post relevant content only. Post content that will get people to follow you. Remember to make content targeted to the audience you’re trying to reach.
After you get everything going, be sure to respond to messages and replies as soon as possible. Stay active and involved in the conversation and get busy following others, too.
Use Online Directories
Online directories are a great way to find your prospective site users. All you have to do is submit your company websites to the directories to get listed. Look for directories that are geared toward your niche:
- TechCrunch
- Mashable
- CrunchBase
- VentureBeat
- KillerStartup
- SpringWise
Ask for Referrals
When people sign up for your email list or buy your products, don’t hesitate to ask them to spread the news about your business. Don’t be afraid to ask for a referral—just by doing this, you could end up generating 30% more leads—just by asking.
The best time to ask if when site users are engaged with your site, you’ve just sent them some great content and they’re really getting a lot out of interacting with your business. That’s the time to ask for a referral.
These are some of the ways you can generate free marketing for your business. Remember to always provide site visitors and your subscribers with valuable content and products. Meet them at the point of their needs and they’ll be ready to get the word out about your business in no time!
