When you’re a start-up, the thing that is probably at the top of your mind is how to get to the top of your potential customer’s minds – or rather, how to set your business apart in such a competitive market. While start-ups are vying for attention, you can count on these three tips to get your marketing off to a great start.

1. Stay Focused

First and foremost, stay focused on your target market. Don’t be tempted to advertise to everyone. If you focus your marketing content to those who are more likely to convert into customers, your efforts will be more profitable.

2. Give Your Clients An Incentive To Share

Give referral bonuses, discounts or recognition for sharing your brand with their friends and connections. A little effort on your clients’ part can go a long way in getting your company’s name out there, especially if your clients have some positive things to say about your brand/products/services. If you offer people something of value, they are likely to help you spread the word – people like perks.

3. Use Social Media

It’s there. Use it. Show people what your company is all about, put your brand’s personality on the map. Invest a bit of time and effort and it will provide a great return on investment. Engage people with valuable content, unique content your company has created, and you’ll find that it’s easy to start a conversation. Videos go viral every day and a picture is still worth a thousand words. Social media is NOT the place to make a sales pitch, it is a place to make raving fans of your brand by making an emotional connection. Just keep in mind that social media is not for every business. If you are not going to commit to it and stick with it, don’t do it at all. The last thing your followers want is to see you “here today and gone tomorrow”. That makes you seem untrustworthy.

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