As an entrepreneur, launching your very own startup is both an exciting and stressful experience. You get to work for yourself and pursue what you are passionate about, but you are ultimately responsible for the success of your business. Especially after you’ve dedicated your time, money, and resources into this project, you’ll want your efforts to pay off.

For your startup to be successful, you have to build a loyal client base. If you are managing the marketing for your business, you will have to find ways to attract and retain customers. Consider these top marketing strategies for startups that will help you stand out against the competition and grow your business without a huge marketing budget.

1- Start a Referral Program

Why not let your customers do the advertising for you? Word-of-mouth is often one of the best marketing strategies. Offer some sort of incentive to your current customers if they send friends and family your way.

This tactic is especially effective when considering that a majority of people trust personal recommendations over other forms of marketing. When potential customers hear that their friends and family had a good experience with your business, they’ll also want to buy your products or use your services.

2- Become Exclusive

People want what they can’t have. Exclusivity can draw attention and make your brand appear more attractive. Offer promotions for a limited time only to entice buyers, or start with an exclusive beta testing for your website.

3- Don’t Neglect Traditional Marketing

The internet dominates much of today’s marketing, but traditional methods can still be beneficial. Consider buying items such as t-shirts, buttons, and stickers to get the word out. This tactic might require a higher initial investment but does a great job of establishing your brand. Advertising materials featuring direct calls to action will especially make the cost worth it.

4- Start a Movement

We live in a world where people stand together behind certain ideas for political, social, and activist reasons. Often referred to as movements, these campaigns come in all different sizes and forms.

According to the marketing agency StrawberryFrog, movements are a great way for businesses to experience growth. An audience that is up against a common enemy will band together and put their trust in a company that stands with them. 

Startups can start their own movement by seeing what commonalities their audience already shares and analyzing their own values. Even though you don’t have a wide audience yet, movements can do a great job of reaching new customers and establishing what your company stands for. 

5- Work with Another Company

Sometimes startups experience trouble with growing on their own. Why not work with another company to help you gain exposure? You might be wondering if a more-established company would even be willing to work with a startup. It’s not as exclusive as you think!

The partnership can be something as simple as referrals. Say you are the owner of a landscaping company looking for more gigs. You might contact a paving company and inform that you offer professional services that their clients might be interested in. The next time a customer asks their paving company to recommend a lawn care business, you’ll be the first one that comes to mind.

As your client base starts growing, you can return the favor by recommending the paving company. The relationship is mutually beneficial and ultimately leads more customers to trust each brand.

The Takeaway

It’s important to keep in mind that growing your client base will take a little bit of effort and patience. By utilizing some of these top marketing strategies, you will set yourself up for success and gain new customers in no time!