Marketing is a big area that takes time and effort, but it’s worth it! Here are some simple and practical tips to help you kickstart your marketing in the early stages.
It’s tricky to stand out and get noticed in all the noise. So, how do you, as a new company, manage to outshine that Instagram ad for the “best lunchbox ever”? And what can you possibly do to beat that Facebook post about the next big self-help guru?
By answering a few simple questions about your target audience, you can get a long way in creating a marketing strategy that keeps you on track.
To nail your marketing, you need to know who you want to reach. A common mistake is trying to sell to “everyone.” You might think that if you appeal to a broad audience, you’ll sell more. But “something for everyone” often ends up being “nothing for anyone.” Don’t be afraid to narrow down your target audience. One tip is to create “personas.” A persona is a made-up character that represents the customer you want to reach. Give them a name and build a story about who they are, what interests and values they have, and what they do on different platforms.
The most important thing in your marketing isn’t what you want to say – it’s what the customer wants to hear. Focus on their problems and needs, and how your product or service can solve them. Tailor your message (whether it’s in an image, video, or text) to catch the customer’s interest, rather than just talking about yourself.
Learn as much as you can about your target audience (this is where your personas come in!) to figure out which channels to use. Digital channels are cost-effective if you don’t have a big marketing budget. There’s a ton of great data on how people behave on different social platforms – for example, check out the report “Swedes and the Internet” for insights.
Think about what you’re offering – when is the demand for your product or service highest? Successful marketing is all about timing and getting your message to the customer at the right moment. What influences their buying behavior? Is it the time of year or certain events in their life? Plan your activities around that.
When you put time and effort into marketing, you want to know it’s paying off. Set simple goals to track how well your marketing is working. Of course, sales and the number of users or customers are key goals, but you can also measure things like website traffic, newsletter subscribers, or growing your follower count and reach on social media.
