Time To Practise! 8 Basic Digital Marketing Techniques For Your Start-up Business

Nowadays, everyone can easily go online and find the things they need including products and services. Moreover, almost all businesses are also present online. If you’re a startup, then it’ll help you reach the right audience for you, and increase your marketing skills.

Are you scared of spending too much on marketing? You don’t have to. In digital marketing, you’ll get to spend a lot less than the traditional way. In addition, you won’t have to contribute to adding more trash to our environment because printing too many posters and brochures is no longer an option (well, sort of).

Digital marketing is a branch of marketing that focuses on making campaigns and advertisements through the use of online platforms. Don’t worry, if you are not familiar with it, you can hire someone to do it for you, or learn about it little by little.

If you want to know more about the basics of digital marketing and how it can help your start-up business, then be sure to check the list below!

1. Set your marketing budget

Before anything else, you should set your budget for marketing. It’ll be easier to start making content, pay for promotions, and improve your website. You’ll have a more realistic approach if the financial aspect is budgeted.

Additionally, the marketing strategy that you’ll devise will run smoothly if there will be no shortage. It doesn’t have to be a critical plan. You can simply start with a simple plan so that you won’t have to spend too much.

For example, your target audience is local teenagers, then you’ll have to allot a small amount of money that you can spend on social media ads and text messaging.

2. Identify your target audience

If you don’t identify your target market, then it’ll be hard to think about your content. Imagine you won 2 tickets to the concert of your favourite band. You have to invite someone who’ll be happy to join you. Of course, your extra ticket will be worth it if the friend you’ve invited is also a fan of the band.

Just like in identifying your audience, you should not let your well-thought-of marketing strategy go to waste just because you fail to market to the right demographic.

Ask yourself some questions to know who’ll be interested in your products or services. Questions like:

• What gender and age group will be interested in your business?
• What things are they interested in?
• How do they communicate?
• How do they behave, and what is their purchasing behaviour?

3. Create your website

A trusted business has an organised website, that’s why you should invest in it. Besides, the power of online shopping is becoming stronger than before. With fast delivery services and the threat brought by the pandemic, you shouldn’t hesitate to take online orders.

In your websites, possible customers will know that you’re credible enough even if you’re a start-up. In addition, you’ll be given equal opportunity as other businesses.

4. Sign up to social media platforms

Isn’t it amazing how powerful social media platforms are? That’s why you shouldn’t take it for granted. Now that you know your target market, it’ll be easier to choose which social media platforms you need to sign-up for.

However, keep in mind that each social media platform has its own identity. If your target market is female teenagers, you can sign up on Instagram and Twitter. It’ll be easier to catch their attention through these platforms because of high-definition pictures and short-but-sweet texts.

Another use of these platforms is for easier customer service communication. If you’re a chat away, you’ll gain loyal customers because they’ll feel that you care for them (and you should).

5. Send emails, forward texts, and write blogs

Blogging is important whether your business is a start-up or not. It’ll help you create your brand, and it’ll be easier for the customers to find you and get to know you.

Are you finding it hard to create blog content? If yes, you shouldn’t be afraid. Just think of something interesting and helpful you can say share with your audience. For example, if you’re selling bags made of cotton canvas, you can create a series of blog posts that will tell them how to take care of their bags for different situations.

Aside from blog posts, you shouldn’t forget about texting and emailing. Send personal messages once in a while so that customers won’t forget about you. You can include your website links and other information to keep them updated.

6. Offer great deals

Coupons, group discounts, and anniversary deals will surely catch everyone’s attention. Of course, you should do your research and calculate your target sales first before digging into it.

The catch with sales and coupons is that you’ll have to lower your revenue, but increasing the sales will solve your problem. So you should prepare for more advertisements, exposure, and gimmicks before the date of your sale.

7. Understand the importance of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Ever hear of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators)? It’s a way to identify if you’ve reached your goal. It contains graphs, tables, and measurements to inform you if you’ve met your target. You can see your daily, monthly, and annual progress depending on your deadline.

Moreover, it’ll help you to be as productive as possible. You can also see the growth of your entire business.

To maximise the use of KPIs, make sure that set your measurable goals right. The exact metrics will give you accurate results.

8. Asses what works with your audience

Not everything will work well in the first run. So if you have your results, you can assess what methods work well in your business. Further, you should look at your marketing strategy again and find out what should be improved and maintained.

You should have a customer feedback form so that you can easily acknowledge their complaints and compliments.

Remember, you don’t have to prepare everything all at once. Just take things slow, and you’ll reach your goals in the end. Don’t forget to share with us your success stories by leaving a comment below!