A startup rarely has all tides flowing in its favour. Usually, they’re working against it. The landscape is highly competitive, and traditional marketing tactics are simply not viable enough anymore. The internet and digital marketing have completely changed the way a business now gets its name out there. Modern problems require modern solutions, as they say, and one effective way of making your startup’s presence felt in the market is through a well-crafted digital marketing strategy from the very beginning.
Why Start Early and Why a Strategy Matters?
Let’s take a hypothetical example of a company called, say, ABC Ltd., based in Surrey. It’s a local garage that customizes vehicles. Now, one would assume digital marketing is simply running ads and posting on social media. Without a proper strategy, you won’t get the desired ROI. This will merely eat up time and other valuable resources.
A strong strategy is required from the get-go to ensure every dollar is utilized properly. Here, for our fictional company, tying up with a digital marketing agency would result in the proper utilization of their resources, which includes time, manpower, and money. Startups usually don’t have these resources in abundance, so wasting them isn’t a luxury they can afford. The strategy is to start early and strong.
Advantages of Having a Solid Digital Marketing Strategy from the Get-Go
Now, the exact budget a startup should allocate towards its digital marketing efforts varies vastly and depends on various factors. Problems like this can be resolved by employing a digital marketing agency, but generally, it is considered to be 20–25% of their total revenue. Again, this is a generalized number.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the benefits a startup can reap from having a strong digital marketing strategy from the onset:
Establishing Brand Identity
The very first and perhaps the most important aspect of creating a successful business is carving out an identity. Startups can use digital marketing—social media, content marketing, and email campaigns to highlight their brand’s personality and build credibility online. Brand awareness is a massive part of digital marketing.
Targeted Marketing for Better Results
Broad campaigns have their place in the market, but they are resource-intensive and may not always fetch desired results. As a startup, it is much better to focus on precise targeting. Digital marketing allows for this using tools such as Google Ads and Facebook Ads, which help businesses reach specific demographics based on interests, location, and behaviour.
This is another instance where a digital marketing agency would come in handy. For example, if you’re running a PPC campaign, it isn’t always obvious which metrics one should focus on. However, the agency has an understanding of which essential PPC metrics must be tracked.
Using the Right Paid Marketing Solution
Startups more often than not operate on tight budgets. This means they must use marketing solutions that aren’t just cost-effective but also get them tangible results. These include social media marketing, Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns, and influencer marketing.
Building Customer Relationships
Business cannot survive in isolation, but it also isn’t easy to communicate with one’s audience effectively. Digital marketing bridges that gap, facilitating direct communication between startups and their audience via social media interactions, personalized email campaigns, and responsive customer service. This helps foster positive relationships, encouraging not just loyalty but also word-of-mouth referrals, which are invaluable for growth.
Scalability and Flexibility
Digital marketing, unlike traditional marketing, is extremely flexible. One can start from a small $100 budget, and the sky’s the limit from there on. Campaigns can be adjusted, scaled up or down, and refined as per performance. This adaptability, considering the fickle nature of startups, is extremely important for a sustained marketing model.
Conclusion
To compete with industry leaders and stand out in a constantly expanding market, starting off on the right foot is essential. A well-planned digital marketing strategy from day one is no longer optional—it’s a necessity for startups looking to establish their presence and build long-term success.
