If you are a startup or if you are thinking of launching a new business, here is a startup marketing checklist.
If you have been trading for a long time and if your marketing results are flagging, ‘thinking like a startup’ could be just what you need.
- Have a concise marketing plan and get everyone on board with this. Writing it all down will help you to think through the key issues.
- Identify groups of customers that you want to market to. These are known as ‘market segments’.
- Decide on the key messages that you are going to use.
- Create a visual brand identity, including a logo, font and brand colours. Use them everywhere.
- Build (or review) your website after you have created your marketing plan.
- WordPress is a free website CMS (Content Management System) that looks good from the start and will grow with your business. See: WordPress tips
- Your website has to work as an online brochure and bring in sales leads / sales.
- Choose your promotional mix carefully. You can ask questions about promotion here:
The Marketing Compass - Think about what you could share for free in terms of useful, helpful information.
- Write something every day. This could be a blog, web page, newsletter, press release or a social media piece.
- Start working on your in-bound marketing using SEO as soon as you can. Start with a keywords list and read this article on SEO strategy.
- At the same time, contact potential new customers. For example, this can be done via Facebook and LinkedIn.
- Use MailChimp for your newsletter. It is free for up to 2,000 subscribers.
- Have a newsletter signup form on every page of your website.
- Start to use a CRM (Customer Relationship Management system) as early as possible. For example:
Capsule CRM - Start talking to journalists. Tell them why you are launching your new enterprise and what is different about you (take this from your marketing plan).
- Have a system for improving your conversion rates.
- Continually review your marketing results.
- Get some external advice on marketing.
Written by startup marketing consultant Nigel Temple. If you are a business owner, check this out.
Startups can receive marketing advice via The Marketing Compass
