Marketing Hacks For StartUp Growth
Sure churning out content, pushing blogs, publishing pieces on social media, blasting emails seem like a good strategy, but what about making sure it actually works?
Here’s the truth: there’s no magic formula for marketing. It’s all about constantly testing, monitoring, and analyzing.
But before you dive headfirst into content creation, there are key elements you should be tracking to attract and convert customers:
1. Website Speed:
Imagine clicking on a website, excited to learn more, then getting stuck staring at a loading screen. Not exactly the dream first impression, right? That’s why website speed is important. Thankfully, there are free tools like Google PageSpeed Insights that analyze your site and give you tips to make it lightning fast.
Action: Test your website speed on different devices (desktop, mobile) with Google PageSpeed Insights and get ready to see a major improvement!
2. SEO Keywords:
To kickstart SEO, every company starts with keyword research and then forgets all about it. Keyword research should be an ongoing part of the company SEO strategy. Given the search world keeps evolving, keep noticing the trends in keywords specific to your area. There are awesome free tools like Google Trends that can help you discover what people are searching for right now so put them to use.
Action Time: Refresh your keyword strategy using Google Trends and make sure your content is hitting what your audience is looking for.
3. Brand Messaging Audit:
Is your brand message clear, consistent, and resonating with your target audience? Do a thorough review to identify any inconsistencies and ensure your brand voice is coming through loud and clear across all marketing channels.
Action Time: Review your marketing materials and website copy to ensure your brand message is consistent and resonates with your target
4. Customer Journey Analysis:
Imagine your ideal customer’s journey to becoming a loyal brand advocate. Now, audit every aspect of this journey and identify any roadblocks that might be causing potential customers to drop off. Are your checkout processes smooth? Is your website easy to navigate?By understanding these friction points, you can refine your sales funnel and watch those conversions soar!
Action Time: Start running through your entire flow as if you were the customer to identify friction points.
5. Content Quality:
Not all content is created equal. Take a deep dive into your content library and see which pieces are generating excitement (and leads!), and which ones are collecting dust. Look at your website analytics (most platforms have built-in analytics) to see what’s resonating.
Action Time: Breathe new life into underperforming content, or consider saying goodbye and focusing on creating the kind of content your audience craves.
6. Social Media Presence:
So you’re posting on all the social media channels, but are you getting the kind of engagement you deserve? Social media audits can be eye-opening. You might discover that one platform is a goldmine of engagement, while another is a ghost town.
Action Time: Look at your social media metrics and see which platforms are giving you the biggest bang for your buck. Double down on what’s working and adjust your strategy for the rest.
7. Email Marketing:
Open those email reports and take a good look at your open and click-through rates. Are they reaching the customers inboxes? Are they landing in the inboxes? What are the open rates? Try making adjustments as needed. Maybe your subject lines need a little more excitement, or perhaps your audience needs to be segmented for more targeted messaging.
Action Time: Revamp your subject lines with catchy headlines, segment your lists for more personalized emails using your email marketing platform’s features, and don’t forget to make those calls to action clear and enticing!
8. Ad Spend Efficiency
Every penny counts, especially for startups. Analyze your ad campaigns across all channels to see if you’re getting the most return on your investment (ROI). You might be able to tighten your targeting, experiment with different ad formats, or even try A/B testing different ad copy to see what resonates best.
Action Time: Look for ways to reduce costs while maximizing the impact of your ads using your ad platform’s analytics. I would recommend trying organic growth channels as well.
By following these steps and using free tools, keep evaluating what’s working and fix what’s holding you back. From website speed to brand messaging, it’s important to monitor and measure marketing efforts to make those customers stick.
