Keep It Simple… Smarty! Five Simple & Effective Marketing Tips for Startups

There are so many factors when starting a new company, and marketing your business is certainly one of the most important aspects to nail down before your doors open. Everything from creating your brand to curb appeal, all angles must be considered. Here are 5 simple and effective tips for marketing your new business.

1. Let’s start with brand identity. Colors convey certain emotions, so consider your industry, your audience, and why certain colors are more prominent in certain industries. A little bit of research goes a long way to make sure you start off creating the best foundation for your marketing. When creating your company name & logo, envision your logo depicted in various ways. For instance, you want your company to be recognizable, and able to print in various applications, from a billboard to a t-shirt, a website to a bumper sticker. You want your logo and tagline easy to read and recognize. Look at the most popular retail stores and you will find that most have simple, easy to read logos in a minimal amount of colors. This allows versatility and will also save you money when printing and branding your logo on a variety of products.
2. Next, get your basic web presence up and running. The first thing your prospective clients are going to do is Google you! Google My Business listings are very important because it provides an immediate view of your hours, phone number, address, and website. Without this, some prospective clients may become frustrated immediately when trying to look you up. Also consider your industries top listing websites such as TripAdvisor, HomeAdvisor, and Angie’s List. You also want your website to be completed and working properly before your doors open. Your website is an investment, and one that should be considered early on when starting your business. In today’s age of technology, you no longer need a separate “mobile” website, but a custom responsive website to accommodate all smartphone and various laptop and mobile needs. This investment will ensure your new website will be able to last years to come as our technology further expands to various types of devices.
3. Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of marketing. You need to capture the attention of local clients and become a staple in your local area. Start by considering angles when placing your curb appeal items. Driving past your business, you want signage that is eye-catching and unique to your location. You may need to place your signage or flags closer to the street or utilize neighboring businesses if they allow you to place a sign in a better location. Also, many local convenience stores will allow small handouts at their registers to promote local businesses.
4. Choose your paper wisely. Think about how you really want your company portrayed. You can strike a balance between budget and style as there are SO many new paper stocks and printing methods to give your logo and branding a bit of pop! List each of your main paper needs such as business cards, letterhead, and envelopes, and sample various types of paper to choose one that best showcases your branding. Then make sure all your paper materials are done in the same paper stock, so everything has a consistent look & feel.
5. Last but certainly not least, is your promotional materials. Before you even think about the product, think about the person. Who are you promoting your business to and how do you want them to feel when they think of your company? If you aren’t creating a memory with each giveaway, you are missing the boat. Conveying a feeling is what makes a promotional product successful. It’s easiest to do this by listing out the main purpose or campaign for giving out your materials, such as new hire gifts, new clients gifts, tradeshows you’ll be attending for the year, or mailable promotional items. Once you nail down your campaign, you can then think of the feeling to portray, and order samples of each product you are considering prior to purchase. Just remember that you want to connect value to your business. It’s better to hand out fewer items with more value than a lot of inexpensive items that might end up in the trash!