3 Marketing Tips Every Start-Up Should Follow

You’ve spent years developing your product or service and are finally ready to take the plunge into entrepreneurship. Though you know your product inside and out, knowledge and enthusiasm alone will not make your business a success.

Start-up companies must be deliberate in marketing their businesses to be successful. There are a few basic rules every start-up entrepreneur can use to get their marketing efforts on the right track.

Find Your Target Audience

Most start-up entrepreneurs are anxious to spread the word about their products or services. Often, when asked who they’re trying to market to, their answer is enthusiastically, “Anyone!”

However, when businesses target to anyone, all too often they receive responses from no one. That’s why it is important for start-up businesses to identify their target audiences.

Imagine a young businesswoman is starting her own home cleaning company using green products. While “anyone” could certainly use her services, the entrepreneur realizes that young mothers in particular value having their homes clean and chemical-free. The businesswoman chooses to market directly to young moms to make the most of her marketing efforts. Now, all she has to do is determine what her message should be.

Separate Yourself from the Pack

Much marketing copy is full of superlative language that lacks substance. “Great Service!”, “Best Value!”, and “Friendly Customer Service!” offer nothing about what makes your company the right choice over competitors. Instead of relying on words like “best,” “great,” and “super,” start-up companies should inform their target audiences about what sets them apart from competitors.

For the young businesswoman with the house cleaning company, this may mean focusing her message on the advantages of green products, a benefit that many house cleaning services may not offer.

Speak to Your Target Audience, Not at Them