Does your business need a boost? Are you looking for smarter, more efficient ways to advertise in an overcrowded market? Whether you run a small smart-up company or a national brand looking to reinvent itself, here are just nine techniques for making a splash in your industry.
1. Define Your Goals
This may sound obvious, but you’d be surprised at the number of entrepreneurs who go into business with only an idea instead of an objective. If an investor asked you for an elevator pitch right this minute, what would you say? If the IRS demanded a three-word description of your company, how would you classify it?
2. Embrace Social Media
If you want to have any kind of lasting Web presence, you’ll need to be comfortable working with social media. Facebook and Twitter are essential. Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn are good ideas if you have the time. Wherever you go, make sure all of your content is easily linked, liked, retweeted and reblogged for maximum exposure.
3. Host Contests and Giveaways
Everyone loves a freebie. If you’re looking to put your business in the news, offer a special promotion or sweepstakes for a limited number of people. Not only will users fight over the chance to be one of the lucky few, but the people who do win will turn into loyal customers for life.
4. Experiment
Don’t be afraid to color outside the lines during your launch. All new businesses have an adjustment period when they first open their doors, so this is the perfect time to play around with ads, sales and marketing strategies. You won’t hurt your image with a failure this early in the game.
5. Network With Other Professionals
Customers aren’t the only ones who can make or break your business. You’ll find it much harder to stay afloat without connections in the industry, so start attending conventions, putting up a stall at expos and joining mastermind groups and professional associations within your field. The bigger your Rolodex, the more support you’ll enjoy as a new company.
6. Engage Your Employees
Good business starts at home. Happy, motivated employees can do wonders for efficiency. If your company has been struggling to meet its quotas or retain its customers, go back to the roots of your workplace and figure out what can be done to improve them.
7. Understand Accessibility
It’s the 21st century, and customers will expect your brand to be accessible on all platforms. Have you made a mobile version of your site for those browsing on their smartphones? Are your navigational buttons easy to use with both a mouse and a finger?
8. Court Viral Content
One of the quickest ways to spread the word about your business is through an ad or promotion that goes viral. However, there’s no universal consensus on how to make that happen, so you’ll need to study all the tricks and choose the ones that best suit your brand.
9. Hire the Experts
If you need a little extra help in boosting your brand, look for an advertising agency devoted exclusively to launches, start-ups and grand openings. People like Lindsey Stone can help you effectively market your products or sell your services as an emerging business.
These are just a few ways to break into the industry and hit the ground running. If you’re serious about a successful launch, keep these strategies in mind.