5 Low Cost Marketing Activities Every Startup Should Perform

It’s a very rosy idea to run your own startup. The excitement, zeal and willingness to go that extra mile is amazing. Several ideas flowing through the mind to achieve that magical figure. The only catch is – which “one” would be the best one to adopt! Which idea would assure & ensure quick success? Well, startups face many such challenges but none as precarious as the struggle to stay cash positive.

If a startup can live up to 3 years then it usually stays for a longer time.

Cost is THE major factor with salaries, leasing fees, infrastructure, operational costs, etc. all affecting the struggle to stay afloat. It is here that many startups neglect the importance of marketing. They focus on many “PUSH” strategies which look cost effective but they actually stifle potential growth. Startups must realize that Marketing is not a Cost Center but an Investment Hub. Investments in the right direction and performed diligently with experts will lead to long term stability and growth.

Aim for 2018 – Knowing and understanding your market so well that the product or service sells itself

Undoubtedly, marketing strategies or activities must be highly specific in every separate case. But, there are few universal things important for growth focused startups.

5 low cost marketing activities which every startup should perform

1. Referrals – Referrals are your best marketers or even virtual partners to an extent. Your prospects are 4 times more likely to buy from you when they are referred by someone. Plus, establishing referral programs/campaigns doesn’t cost that much – in certain cases it does not cost at all.
   Tip: Add an attractive discount offer or a cash carrot good enough to lure your referral in such campaigns – after all he is helping your business grow.
2. SEO/SMO – SEO (Search Engine Optimization) looks complex and time consuming. The results are also visible after quite some time. SMO (Social Media Optimization) on the other hand looks casual since its freely available but requires lots of efforts (perfect caveat to assist business conversions). Both of them are bound by one important aspect though – content. It’s a lot of work to churn out blogs, website content, social posts, etc. Advantage – the only cost will be time. After all, it is a stable base that holds up a large structure.
   Tip: Create a content calendar, reach out to individuals and stay connected for more ideas.
3. Email Marketing – One of the most effective marketing strategies and with an ROI that everyone dreams of. As long as your list is curated and organized properly, a steady and non-evasive stream of email blasts should be the first recurring item in your business growth check list.
   Tip: Start with drip or nurturing campaigns for your opt-in list – stay in their online vision.
4. Personal Branding – People trust an actual face behind the content that is pushed across to them. This value heuld be your personal brand. Your personal views could be different from our business but they both contribute towards building a long term relationship.
   Tip: Develop your personal site as well and syndicate the right content.
5. Forums and Groups – Don’t underestimate the power of lurking on public forums and social channels. There are thousands of prospects you might come across who are looking for business or even aggregator website links where you can promote your business. The more involved you are, the broader your community link would be.
   Tip: LinkedIn or Quora are the best places to start with.

Like, I said earlier, business strategies are highly specific like marketing strategies but then, if you are thinking of growth, innovative and creative ways of marketing are your only savior.