In the US alone, more than 5 million new businesses launch every year. While it’s reassuring that business is booming, the sheer number of companies makes it increasingly difficult to get noticed. If you’ve recently launched a startup, or you’re in the final stages of planning, it’s crucial to work on drawing attention to your new venture. In this guide, we’ll outline some simple ways to create a buzz around your organization.
Build a brand
A brand is not the same as a business. We often use these words interchangeably, but they have different meanings. Building a brand is all about adding dimensions to your business plan and creating a unique identity. Branding gives people information and insights into who you are, what you do, and why they should choose your company over others. Creating a strong brand can help you raise awareness, create a buzz, and stand out in a crowded marketplace.
Branding is often associated with designing logos and coming up with witty or snappy straplines and original product names, but it’s much more than this. Branding goes deeper than aesthetics and appearances. It’s about establishing relationships and giving your business depth and character. It enables customers to get to know the people and stories behind the logo, name and reception desk, and learn more about company values, ethos, culture and objectives.
Building a brand has never been more important. Research shows that over 85% of consumers now prefer to buy from companies that share their values. Customers today want to interact and engage with businesses and they want to understand what brands stand for and how they work. It’s hugely beneficial to work on a branding strategy and outline clear goals in terms of what you want your business to be and how you want prospective customers and clients to perceive it.
Make your products stand out
If you’re selling products, it’s vital to ensure they stand out. Whether you’re opening a store, liaising with buyers and retailers looking to stock your products in their shops, launching an online store, or planning to visit trade shows, festivals, fairs or events, it’s crucial to turn heads. Your products may be competing with many others so they need to catch the eye and persuade the buyer to take a closer look.
When you design products, it’s important to think about the look of the product and the packaging. A study by Ipsos found that almost 80% of consumers are influenced by packaging design.
Modern packaging solutions and innovative design options enable you to capitalize on stunning aesthetics, branding opportunities, enhanced functionality and safety, and sustainability. You can use packaging to lure people in, provide information about your brand and the product, and gain a competitive advantage. From printed custom mailer boxes for online orders to eco-friendly, reusable pouches for food stores and eateries, make the most of your packaging. Bespoke boxes, containers and wrapping offer a chance to showcase your logo and brand personality while making every delivery look beautiful. Research data, trends and market insights, test different designs, and ask customers for feedback and suggestions.
In addition to distinctive, attractive aesthetics, it’s crucial to include key details and product information on your packaging. Upsell the benefits and highlight your USPs to entice customers to buy and make it easy to spot the differences between your products and rival options.
Get social
Social media is a fantastic marketing platform for startups that want to create a buzz. Offering quick and easy access to millions of users, you can use social media apps to build a following, promote products and services, share news and updates, and introduce your brand. It’s advisable to draw up a social media marketing strategy before you launch. This should cover which platforms and channels you’re using, how often you post, the type of content you create and share, and how you plan to attract target customers and increase your following.
If you’re looking to draw in followers who use Instagram regularly, for example, hosting a giveaway is an effective way to generate interest in your brand and add more followers rapidly. Choose a prize, share steps to enter and let people know when you’re picking the winner. Make the most of opportunities to increase follower numbers. Swap entries for tags, post shares and story mentions. If you’re giving away a brand-new occasion outfit, for example, encourage people to tag all the friends they want to join them on a night out or a trip to the races and offer extra entries for sharing stories. The best campaigns trigger a ripple effect, boosting follower counts dramatically in hours, days or weeks.
As well as advertising your products and services, new businesses can also harness the power of social media to get to know prospective customers. Use the social side of the apps to your advantage. Ask questions, run polls and encourage followers and virtual friends to learn more about your business. Posts like behind-the-scenes videos, product demos, and meet the team are great for building a rapport and giving people an insight into your brand.
Take advantage of word-of-mouth marketing
Word-of-mouth marketing has evolved, but it remains one of the most powerful marketing ploys. More than 90% of us now read reviews to help us make decisions when buying products or looking for businesses and 75% of customers use social media to get advice. Nowadays, it’s common to ask for recommendations in local social media groups or check company websites or feeds out before placing an order or making a call.
As a startup, you can raise your profile and get people talking about your business by taking advantage of word-of-mouth marketing. Encourage customers to share reviews and offer incentives for referrals and recommendations. Share positive feedback on your website and social feeds and make your business more noticeable in local directories and social media groups. It’s also important to take care of loyal customers. Repeat customers play a pivotal role in helping you attract new clients and they spend an average of 67% more than new clients.
Millions of new businesses launch every year. One of the toughest challenges for startups is standing out. If you’re on a mission to create a buzz, get people talking and draw attention to your venture, key areas to focus on include building a strong, unique brand, making sure your products turn heads, using social media to form connections and raise brand awareness, and capitalizing on the power of word-of-mouth marketing.
