5 inexpensive digital marketing tips for startups: Preethi Sanjeevi

As a start-up, the task of marketing yourself can seem a daunting one. Believe us, we have been there and done that! While digital marketing seems more within the grasp, the sheer range of what one can do can be paralysing.

The point is you could choose many channels and a number of messages, but the core of your marketing as a start-up will come down to these five tips. 

Know your Brand

In start-ups, more than many other scenarios, for the marketing to be firmly rooted in one’s own brand is critical. You are small. You are striving to be known. You want to know be known for the exact things that make your DNA.

Know what you want from your marketing

What is the clear outcome you want of your marketing? Are you trying to get users for your product? Are you trying to build trust with investors? Do you want to hire better talent for your firm as it grows? Maybe all of the above. But ensuring that you push for clarity on end goals before you start is proofing for success already.

Choose your platforms wisely

Once you have a clearer idea of what you want to achieve and who your stakeholders are, you can start selecting your tools. Digital platforms possess an entire set of tools that a marketer can tap on. Each of them has its own strengths and can help you achieve different objectives. Choose your platforms wisely to be able to deliver the right message to the right public, in the right place, at the right time.

Networking

Take the meaning of the word “Social Networks” literally. Any digital platform or a social event that allows networking is an opportunity for a startup to connect with more people. The basic idea of talking to people is the foundation of marketing; that is where you get to share your idea and find people who can relate to it. These connections are your valuable asset as they will be the ambassadors of your idea. Don’t be afraid to connect, both in the digital and the real world.

Nurture your referencing

SEO is crucial in optimising your online presence. Your first step in driving traffic to your site would be to have relevant headlines and key words in your content. You can also try to maximize your backlinks, IED links to your website from different platforms to enhance traffic. If you have a strong following in your social media platforms, it would be ideal to have a link present in your content. This can translate into greater web traffic.

(Preethi Sanjeevi is Regional CMO at VML – South East Asia & India.)