Seven Things Every Startup Business Needs

Every startup business needs certain things to succeed. For creative types, these may be some of the least interesting tasks. They’re also some of the most important because they set the stage for your success. These are things like a business plan, funding, choosing a legal structure, and getting the necessary permits or licenses.

Those are essential items, but completing them does not equal getting customers or clients. To do that, you need marketing. The best idea, product, or service will do the world no good if nobody is aware of it. Marketing is how products and services are promoted, sold, and positioned to be a better option than your competitors or other alternatives. There are many tools online to help with this if you’re a DIYer, including using a logo maker to easily make your visual identity stand out.

Let’s take a look at seven things every startup business needs in its marketing in order to hit a home run.

1. Product or Service

You already know what you intend to offer, but sales won’t happen until you can show your potential customers that you can solve some kind of problem for them. Your product has to be the best it can be, from how it’s designed, the level of quality, its features, and its packaging.

You can earn credibility by demonstrating expertise in your niche, showing them that you understand the problem they’re trying to solve and that you’ll be there to guide them every step of the way.

2. Price

There are several strategies you can try for pricing. Of course, it has to be priced so that you’re making a profit; otherwise, you won’t be able to continue to operate, especially if you’re supported by investors or credit to start with.

You can price higher to imply that your product is of superior quality to your competition. If your product is fundamentally similar, price similarly but draw attention to the features and benefits they aren’t highlighting. If the market is crowded, pricing low to start with can help you elbow your way in.

3. Advertising

This is the most public-facing aspect of your marketing. This includes print, radio, television, social media, and digital marketing of all kinds. You need to know where your customers are hanging out so you can put your ads in front of them where they are. The more ways you have to reach them, the likelier they are to take action. Contact a reputable local marketing agency like Spark Factory for more information.

4. Place

If you have a physical location only, your customers will have to come to you. If you have a physical location and you’re able to sell your product or service online, even better! Advertising can help drive them to your website if you’re selling direct-to-consumer. If you’re looking at selling on third-party platforms, determine which ones your competition is selling on and see if you can find a way to stand out.

5. Staff

Whether you have an entire team or you’re a one-person operation, you want to make the best impression on your customers (and potential customers) at all times. How your staff interacts with your customers should reflect your brand personality (playful, serious, etc.) Having a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool can help you keep everything straight.

6. Packaging

This can be a make-or-break proposition for your startup business. Your packaging should include your logo, brand colors, tagline, and any other features that you want your customers to notice or remember. Make sure your packaging is easily differentiated from your competitors. Include the information on your packaging that you’d want to know if you were the buyer; try to anticipate their needs and questions. If your brand is eco-friendly, try to tie that into your packaging with recycled or reusable materials.

7. Procedures

The more organized you are behind the scenes, the more seamless your customers’ experience will be. You want to avoid running out of stock, being short-handed at busy times, or having problems with your shipper. You’ll need a contingency for every kind of complaint or return issue. If there’s a problem that keeps happening, find out what the issue is and be proactive about fixing it. Unhappy customers will spread the word more readily than happy ones, so try to create as many happy customers as you can!

Don’t Skip the Dull Stuff

Many entrepreneurs are eager to get to the parts that interest them the most. For some, the excitement of getting that unique product or groundbreaking service out there for the first time is all they can focus on! There is so much more to running a successful startup business than just the product or service. There’s a whole suite of skills to learn and concepts to understand. Even if they aren’t the parts that are the most interesting, don’t skip the dull stuff in your rush to the exciting parts.