How the big brands can teach newbie entrepreneurs…
Like everything in life, learning from the people who have gone before us can be a great way to get ahead.
No startup survives on sheer luck. Rather, entrepreneurs are guided by knowledgeable advice from people who’ve been there and done that.
Taking a page from your “elders” can have the power to make or break your business.
Much like a successful or unsuccessful marketing campaign.
Every business survives or fails based on how well it markets itself.
This means that learning effective marketing tactics from entrepreneurial powerhouses should be a top priority.
Amazon, Google, and Disney started from nothing. And now, all four are listed in the world’s top 13 most-valuable businesses.
This means two things for you.
First, it’s possible to achieve the same level of success that these brands have.
And second, it means that these brands, in a very real sense, have gone through exactly what you’re going through.
1. USE CONTENT TO INCREASE VISIBILITY
It’s a simple fact. The more content that you produce online, the more visible you are to your target market.
2. VIDEOS ARE THE FUTURE OF CONTENT MARKETING
Videos are the bread and butter of content marketing because they are easier than ever to record and they visually engage consumers.
But, for videos to be powerful in your marketing strategy, they can’t just be popular. They also have to inform people’s buying decisions.
That part is important. Nearly 50% of people look for product-related videos before making a purchase.
3. TELL A STORY ABOUT YOU AND YOUR PRODUCT/SERVICE
All great products and brands tell a story.
What do I mean?
I mean that storytelling is the cornerstone of effective marketing. But what is storytelling?
At its core, storytelling is making a promise to the people who buy your product. You could promise to make customers sexy, happy, healthy, wealthy. You name it.
Then, that promise is framed within a story.
4. CREATE HASHTAGS
Hashtags are powerful.
They allow people to come together for a common cause, united around your brand’s name.
They increase brand awareness.
And they can even build a customer base if the hashtag is compelling enough.
Hashtags can be used on practically any social media platform, including LinkedIn, Google+, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
5. FREEBIES
The word “free” scares many marketers.
The whole point of running ads, creating content, and marketing, in general, is to sell stuff, not to give stuff away.
But, ironically, giving stuff away for free can actually be an amazing marketing tactic.
People love free stuff. And if you give them something free, they’ll often be more than willing to share your product and spread your message.
6. CONNECT WITH INFLUENCERS
Influencer marketing is powerful because it’s relational.
By working with Internet personalities, companies everywhere humanize their brand, product, and experience.
Influencers are impactful because their audience connects with them. When brands tag along for the ride, they acquire that same level of connection with the influencer’s audience.
If you find influencers for your company who will help give you a positive reputation in the mind of the consumer, then you’ve found the right influencers.
Just make sure that the brand image you’re trying to communicate and the influencer you choose are in line with each other.
Many companies have used influencer marketing to rise to the top of their industry. You can do the same thing.
Those aren’t the only lessons you can learn from brands that have made it big, but they’re a great starting place.
The person who goes from startup to thriving business is the same person who listens to the lessons of successful business people.
Listen well and listen hard. And who knows? Soon, you might be giving the advice.
