The internet is becoming a crowded place and brands and startups face the same problem: How to get new customers! It would be nice if customers would just come knocking, but instead of waiting around, they need to get out there and start promoting online. Here’s how.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Social media these days has become a fast and effective way to reach people and for people to receive and share news. Marketing via social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram helps Brands and startups:
- Create new customer awareness about their products and services, rollouts, promos, marketing initiatives
- Engage and interact with their customers
- Build relationship with them through listening
- Monitor activity
- Respond accordingly
- Manage crises
- Seek partnerships and investors
Mix it up! Use different channels to show off fun company culture, share related industry links, and start new conversations with potential customers.
CONTESTS/GIVEAWAYS
The two big benefits of running contests and giveaways are brand / startup awareness and a boost in likes and followers. Contests and giveaways can be run on various social media channels. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Understand the rules and requirements of each social media platform used
- Keep it relevant to the industry
- Make it fun and easy for people to enter
- Tie it up with a mainstream “tentpole” event: Halloween, Thanks giving , Christmas etc.
- Offer a valuable prize, but it doesn’t have to cost thousands. A tech gadget or a package of free Products or services from your company is suitable.
PAID ADVERTISING
- Ads and promoted post on Facebook: Facebook offers several ad products, and the platform has 1 million active users. Promoted posts play in the content marketing space where companies can promote a specific piece of content, be it a photo or video. These Ads are target specific, allow companies to control the budget and are very easy to place.
- Twitter Ads: These refer to the paid boosts that start ups and brands on Twitter can use to extend the reach of their tweets, promote a hashtag, or gain more followers. Promoted Tweets lets company’s tweets reach more people’s home feeds, and offers a healthy batch of targeting options. Twitter ads also include a Promoted Accounts feature.
- Google Ads: Google search ads are online ads that appear alongside the search engine results page when users search a keyword query on Google. These ads are either pay-per-click or impression, whereby advertisers pay for each ad click or set of impressions. Google’s PPC search ads are managed by Google’s Adwords advertising platform, which allows advertisers to bid on keywords, craft ad text, set budgets, and more.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
PR is based on the fact that customers are far more receptive to a product or service when they hear about it through a third party. This is why businesses have traditionally focused their PR efforts on reaching out to journalists and publications. Today, PR is also reaching out to bloggers and influencers with a large social media following.
- The goals of PR remain the same, only the methods are evolving.
- A consistent PR Campaign can help startups and brands build general awareness of their product/service and add on to any direct marketing, promo and advertising efforts.
- These efforts can also help brands and startups to secure partnerships, customers and funding.
VIDEO PRODUCTION AND VIRAL MARKETING
Video is a powerhouse for both search and retention. Find a good creative agency and/or video production company that specializes in online video. Here are some tips:
- Establish specific goals
- Develop a video seeding / viral marketing strategy that includes online ads, e-mail lists, social media, YouTube and your own website
- Consider producing an ongoing video series to build a following or one-off viral or promo to promote a new product or service
- Go with funny, entertaining, unexpected, or even shocking wherever possible
- Add call to action. Make it clear what the viewer should do after watching the video. This is where you convert sales.
