15 Essential Marketing Tactics Perfect for New Businesses
July 4th, 2021
I will cover some low-cost, high-return tactics that are perfect for any business just starting out. I know you’re busy with your brand new business, so let’s jump right in.
Why choose these tactics
When coming up with and discovering new marketing tactics, I took a look at the following factors to identify the best for new businesses.
- Low cost
- It does not require large teams
- Pulls new people in
- Easy to adjust as you find out what is working
- Potential for high return upon execution
- Builds a solid foundation to scale as the business grows.
- Increases trust among potential customers.
If these traits align with what you are looking for, read on.
1. Early bird gets the worm – introductory offers
We see it all the time, and that is because it is a tried and true method to entice new customers to your product. Consider these ideas for when a brand new customer makes their first purchase.
- Offer a discount
- Include a free gift
- Include a sample of another one of your products
- Offer free shipping
- Buy one get one free deal
It is always hard to resist the word FREE. My wallet knows from experience.
2. You google yourself; why not your business?
I don’t know why, but google yourself always sounds sexual to me. Maybe I’m just horny all the time, but I digress.
Sign up for a Google My Business account. It is free and allows you to manage how Google presents your business when people search for it. In addition, GMB offers a few options for promotions.
- What’s New – Announce a new product or service
- Offers – Special Introductory deal or similar
- Upload photos of your products
- Q&A section – Perfect for posting FAQs
Use all four sections to make the most out of your account.
3. Throw a birthday party
Celebrate the launch of your business! Host an event where people can come and learn more about your product, network with others, and maybe partake in some free food and drinks.
The more creative and fun the event, the more memorable it will be. Posting fantastic action shots from the event on social media will instill FOMO in those who did not attend, increasing interest in not missing the next one.
4. Collaboration station
Collaborating with another brand is a win-win. You get access to their audience while they get access to yours. In addition, it is beneficial if you collaborate with a brand that has a more considerable following within your exact target market.
Cross-promotion with a more established brand also gives your new business a boost in credibility.
5. No one cares about a participation trophy – get some real awards
They may not give out Oscars to new businesses, but plenty of organizations give out awards to companies for various reasons. When you can promote an award you have received, it validates your business as a whole.
6. Give it away
Let’s be honest. Getting started can be difficult. How are you supposed to prove that your product is worth spending money on?
Try giving it away for free, or at least offer a free trial. Now, you don’t always have to use this marketing tactic, but it is a great way to get your product in the hands of your target market and establish some legitimacy behind the quality of your product.
7. The power of customer reviews – don’t be afraid to share
Promote positive customer reviews on your website and social media. Good reviews offer proof of concept from real people who have tried your product.
If you are offering an upgrade or a free trial, encourage customers who receive it to write a review of their experience or provide a testimonial.
8. Social Media
It is free to create and post on social media. Don’t ignore it. Not to mention, a lot of people, when checking out a new business, either locate your brand via social media or check out your social media to see how people are engaging with your brand.
Once you have chosen your preferred platforms and established yourself, you can also take advantage of paid advertising services to increase brand awareness. Meet your customers where they hang out, don’t force them to come to you.
9. Source brand ambassadors from within
For new businesses, word-of-mouth marketing is essential to boosting sales. When you treat your employees well, you can encourage them to become brand ambassadors to tap into the power of their network.
One execution of this idea is to use a special “friends and family” code or codes unique to an employee to offer to their network. Then, if you feel spicy, make it a competition between the employees to see how many people they can use their code.
10. Customer referral program
Offer incentives for existing customers to bring new customers to your brand. For example, you can offer a $10 discount for every person they refer and give the new customer the same discount.
Again, word-of-mouth marketing is powerful; customers referred by other customers are much more likely to purchase.
11. Nurture your leads – email marketing campaigns
Running a new business can be overwhelming and time-consuming. It is a good idea to set up automatic email marketing campaigns that continue to nurture your leads and keep them within your sales funnel.
Someone may have visited your website but not committed to a purchase. Use these campaigns to prevent those leads from going cold.
12. Don’t fix what isn’t broken – stick with what works
Once you have found a few strategies that work and a style of content that attracts new customers, stick with it. Pay attention to the data to find out what is working and what isn’t. Experimenting can be expensive. Proven methods will help you generate revenue without taking unnecessary risks.
13. Use social media for customer service
Create personalized experiences for your customers. Consistently respond to messages and comments on your social media to make your brand seem credible and engaged with its customers. Everyone wants to be heard, so don’t leave them hanging.
14. Have a system in place to track and identify leads
Start strong. As your business grows, you want to be prepared for an influx of new leads. Even if you only have had five customers so far, employing a CRM system (Customer Relationship Management) will keep everything organized and your team on the same page.
Do some research to identify the best CRM for your business model.
15. Lead with purpose
Last but certainly not least, lead with purpose. When your marketing and content feel all over the place, it isn’t a good look for your products and services. Establish a clear vision and purpose, then make sure everything you put out into the world falls within those lines.
Developing a strong brand allows for more creativity and a more streamlined approach to efficient marketing.
Put it all together and shake
Start small. It is easy for new businesses with small (but mighty) teams to get overwhelmed and drop the ball when creating quality marketing content.
Choose five of the above tactics and begun to structure your strategy. Of course, some methods will work better for one type of business and not necessarily for another.
Now that you have wrapped your head around your marketing strategy check out Nowadays Media if you are interested in a viral marketing campaign all about your brand.
Sources:
Drive Customer Engagement on Google | Google My Business