Are you a new business owner? If you are, digital marketing should be on your mind. Marketing is essential to the success of your business, and with so many digital options at your fingertips, you’ve got plenty of places to start.

That large range of choices can be overwhelming though. That’s why we’re here to help. Digital marketing may seem like a giant squid to tackle, but really it’s a great opportunity to get your name out and let your customers get to know you.

Most of the world uses some digital format for interaction these days, and you’ve got to use that to your advantage. Digital marketing for startups is no different than marketing for existing companies. As long as you know the digital world, you can own it like you’ve been around forever.

Keep reading for five tips that will get you started on your way to marketing success.

1. Use Email Marketing

Email provides a great avenue for marketing, so don’t be afraid to use it. While we all get tons of emails we don’t want, we’ve all probably ended up clicking on some of them.

Email campaigns are a great way to get the word out, whether it’s through an email blast to potential customers, or an email sent to users who’ve signed up to receive your communications.

Newsletters and updates are great ways to stay in contact with your customers. Regular interaction reminds your customers of your company and services, keeping them in their mind.

Boring emails won’t leave a good impression, though. You want to send content that is high-quality and memorable. Start with a subject line that engages your customer. Make it catchy and interesting.

Do you have a sale coming up? Or is there an event that customers should know about Maybe you have a new product coming and want to create some excitement? Email marketing is great for all of these things.

Use persuasion throughout your email and make it easy to read. Bullet lists and headings are great for this. Small paragraphs help too. Let your email readers dive in and then point out the benefits of what you’re offering — don’t forget to optimize your emails for mobile viewing and make sure you’re using an email marketing platform so you don’t seem spammy!

If you’ve created a brand image (and you should have), emails are a great place to get this image out and on the minds of customers.

Lastly, you have to think about CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation) and make sure that you are compliant with this legislation.

2. Host a Giveaway or Contest

Giveaways and contests are great ways to engage customers in a way that they will remember. Events like this are highly interactive, unlike many forms of traditional marketing.

Due to the level of interaction and fun, this is a great startup marketing strategy. You’ll leave a great impression on people who are getting to know your company. You can even make it strategic by giving away your actual services so that you end up gaining entries from interested parties — which can then become leads!

Freebies go a long way, especially if your free items also happen to include your brand. Show your customers you are generous and fun and that you love to interact with them.

Digital platforms are great for giveaways and contests. They’ll bring traffic to your site and encourage sharing on social media. Have fun with these events, and make them unique to you. Services, coupons, freebies, items, and more can be given out to customers. And you know what? They’ll love it, whatever you give them.

People like to reflect on fun events, so give them a positive memory that they’ll immediately associate with your brand.

3. Use Social Media

If you aren’t using social media to market your business, you’re missing out on a lot of exposure. Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn all provide great platforms for digital marketing. These sites get people talking and sharing content from your site — especially when using authentic videos and images.

Social media sites are great for communicating with your customers. Reach out, and when they reply, make sure you keep up the conversation! Many customers will appreciate this one-on-one attention.

Social can be particularly helpful for local marketing since they can be used to get the word out about in-person events and sales.

4. Invest in Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital to the success of your company online. Without it, you might as well ditch your plans for a website. With thousands of other websites vying for the top spots in Google’s search results, you’ve got to know how to compete.

The internet is powerful and you’ve got to know how to play its game. Knowing what people will search for is a huge part of that. SEO uses specific keywords to make sure you show up in searches when and where you want to. Do your research and make sure you’re implementing this strategy or you may find your website lost in the never-looked-at pages of search results.

5. Learn From Competitors

Competitors’ websites and social media channels are great places to learn about what’s working and not working when it comes to marketing. Whether you provide services, goods, or content, sites that produce the same thing can tell you a lot.

As you research your competitors, look at what works as well as what doesn’t work. Check out their products, prices, and quality. Are people happy with them? Do customers interact with them? If so, why? What makes them want to ask questions or communicate with the company?

Looking at how business-customer interactions occur is highly relevant as well. Consider every aspect of what you see on a competitor’s site, then apply what you’ve found out in your own marketing.

Digital Marketing for Startups: A Review

We’ve listed several examples of digital marketing strategies that you should find helpful as you get your business up and running.

Marketing for mature companies may seem different than digital marketing for startups, but it really doesn’t have to be. Take these ideas and hit the ground running, and nobody will suspect you’ve just come on the scene.

Whichever way you decide to start your marketing, go about it like you mean it. Half-hearted marketing won’t get you anywhere, but purposeful marketing will.

Utilize fun events, social media, email, and other outlets to gain brand awareness and interact with customers — you’ll be seeing success sooner than you might think.

For additional information on marketing in the digital age, dive in and contact us today.